a  steel buttonhook with brass &Greco/Roman heads super-imposed on the steel shaft

Item reference: 8588
Dimensions: 6 inches overall
Condition: good original
Price: £15 GB
Status: Sold

This William Comyns figural silver boothook of a woman in classical dress with three small children clinging to her is one of Comyns most sought after button hooks. The second-century Roman mother was known as Sophia, her children as Faith, Hope & Charity in the anglicised form. They are sometimes known as Charity & her children. This quartet of frail females stood up to the brutal might of Rome at a time when a mere whisper of dissent could mean death to a Roman citizen. Sophia was a widow under whose loving care her three daughters acquired a poise and Christian virtue, looked upon with respect by the village which they left for the rewarding city life of Rome, the Eternal City. Through their devout Christianity, they came into conflict with the Emperor Hadrian who did not share the view that Christianity was a harmless form of worship. The rest of the story will be included with the button hook for the successful buyer but as they became Saints you might guess the fate of the family! The heavy handle is cast in solid silver, not stamped in two halves as is more usual, and has the equally heavy stylized “London” steel shank which is typical of William Comyns production. It is hallmarked for London 1887 plus Victoria’s head making it one of the earliest Victorian boot hooks.

Item reference: 8572
Dimensions: 9 and 1/2 inches overall
Condition: good original
Price: £80 GB
Status: Sold

a silver handled BOOT buttonhook by Saunders & Shepherd, established in 1869 at Bartletts Passage Buildings, Holborn, London. It is hallmarked for Birmingham 1904

Item reference: 8555
Dimensions: 11 inches overall
Condition: good original
Price: £25 GB
Status: Sold

a silver and enamel commemorative glove hook depicting the shield from one of the provinces of Canada

Item reference: 8538
Dimensions: 3 and 1/4 inches overall
Condition: good original
Price: £40 GB
Status: Sold

a lovely art nouveau all-silver glove hook by Tiffany & Co ,founded in 1837 in New York USA. It is marked STERLING 3208

Item reference: 8521
Dimensions: 4 and 1/4 inches overall
Condition: good original
Price: £25 GB
Status: Sold

an enamel & silver glovehook by the famous Norwegian firm of David Andersen. It is marked 925 denoting STERLING quality

Item reference: 8503
Dimensions: 3 inches overall
Condition: good original
Price: £28 GB
Status: Sold

a  Chinese Export all-silver buttonhook with applied prunus blossom & foliage. The makers’ mark is WH for Wang Hing who worked out of Hong Kong in the late 19th early 20th centuries.

Item reference: 2856
Dimensions: 9 and 1/2 inches overall
Condition: small amount of bruising where the handle meets the shank, otherwise good original
Price: £50 GB
Status: Sold

a silver and enamel handled buttonhook, possibly from a Norwegian maker. The style is typical of glove hooks from David Andersen but marks are rubbed

Item reference: 3316
Dimensions: 6 and 3/4 inches overall
Condition: good original
Price: £38 GB
Status: Sold

an Irish Connemara shamrock glove hook

Item reference: 3239
Dimensions: 1 and 5/8 inches overall
Condition: good original
Price: £15 GB
Status: Sold

an all-silver 3 pce glove and buttonhook combination set by Whiting Manufacturing Co of New York USA

Item reference: 8607
Dimensions: largest buttonhook is 6 inches overall
Condition: good original
Price: £48 GB
Status: Sold