A silver handled buttonhook by Levi & Salaman, established in 1873 at 143 Newhall Street, Birmingham. It is unique in having a Victorian 3 pence enamelled coin inserted into the end of the handle

Item reference: 3396
Dimensions: 8 and 1/2 inches overall
Condition: good antique original
Price: £35 GB
Status: Sold

a brass fireside buttonhook depicting Ann Hathaway, the wife of William Shakespeare.

Item reference: 3389
Dimensions: 7 and 1/2 inches overall
Condition: good antique original
Price: £10 GB
Status: Sold

a silver handled BOOT buttonhook by the old established company of Hilliard & Thomason, founded in 1847 at 1 Spencer Street, Birmingham. It is hallmarked Birmingham 1894.The design is unusual with a stepped hexagonal silver handle delicately engraved in a floral design

Item reference: 3375
Dimensions: 12 inches overall
Condition: small bruise on handle, otherwise good antique original
Price: £35 GB
Status: Sold

an all-silver antique Chinese Export silver buttonhook with embossed chrysanthemum  flowers from unknown maker established in Shanghai or Canton. The chrysanthemum flower features alongside prunus flowers on many Chinese silver dressing items and the “shepherds crook” hook is typical of the genre.

Item reference: 3381
Dimensions: 8 inches overall
Condition: good antique original
Price: £36 GB
Status: Sold

a long silver handled BOOT button hook by Levi & Salaman, established in 1873 at 18/20 Upper Hockley Street, Birmingham. It is hallmarked Birmingham 1897 has  an armorial  or Coat of Arms image on the collar.

Item reference: 3392
Dimensions: 12 and 1/2 inches overall
Condition: good antique original
Price: £35 GB
Status: Sold

a brass fireside ship in full sale

Item reference: 3388
Dimensions: 6 and 1/2 inches overall
Condition: good antique original
Price: £10 GB
Status: Sold

an all-silver antique Chinese Export Silver handled buttonhook by Tuck  Chang, of Shanghai founded during the Qing dynasty,

Tuck Chang (1870-1920) was highly regarded and the sought after retail silversmith of  Shanghai, expertly combining Chinese traditional motifs with the western tastes of the late 19th Century Victorians and on into the influence and styles of the Art Deco period.

The hand wrought handle of this buttonhook is richly embossed with chrysanthemum and a stippled background enhancing the foliage of the flower

Item reference: 3380
Dimensions: 8 inches overall
Condition: good antique original
Price: £36 GB
Status: Sold

a heavy quality Victorian silver handled BOOT buttonhook with London steel shank by Deakin & Francis, established in 1882 at 15/17 Regent Street, Birmingham. It is hallmarked Birmingham 1894. The company was known for the quality of it’s silversmithing and long established  until it closed in the 1980’s, 100 + years of production.

Item reference: 3376
Dimensions: 13 inches overall
Condition: good antique original
Price: £60 GB
Status: Sold

a miniature silver glove hook in the form of a Lincoln Imp.

Item reference: 8508
Dimensions: 2 and 1/2 inches overall
Condition: good original
Price: £15 GB
Status: Sold

one of the most intriguing buttonhooks I have seen in a lifetime of buttonhook research. The fashion for buttons, button boots etc is principally influenced by Western dress trends so American & European countries were the major contributors to buttonhook design. However, Eastern culture & particularly Japanese style is reflected in some American glove/button hooks and this bronze example follows this influence. So where are we with this bronze organic design with overlays of gilt flora –  there are no examples in the Buttonhook Society records of this buttonhook, nor are there any identifying makers marks etc.

Suffice to say it is a wonderful example of a unique buttonhook, probably from the Art Nouveau period of the late 1800’s to early 1900’s

Item reference: 3378
Dimensions: 12 inches overall
Condition: slight distortion of the hook end, otherwise good antique original
Price: £75
Status: Sold