an Edwardian silver handled BOOT buttonhook by William James Holmes, established in 1898 at 173 Hockley Hill, Birmingham. It is hallmarked Birmingham 1902. The embossed handle shows a lady picking either fruit or blossom

Item reference: 3465
Dimensions: 11 and 1/4 inches overall
Condition: minor oxidation to the tip of the steel shank, otherwise good original
Price: £28 GB
Status: For Sale

A Victorian silver handled buttonhook by Levi & Salaman, established in 1873 at 143 Newhall Street, Birmingham. It is hallmarked Birmingham 1898 and the embossed handle showing a gentleman serenading a lady with a lute mandolin

Item reference: 3466
Dimensions: 10 and 1/2 inches overall
Condition: good antique original
Price: £25 GB
Status: For Sale

an ebony handled buttonhook with chased silver collars by H F Daltrey & Co, established in 1885 at 88 Fore Street, London EC. It is hallmarked London 1914

Item reference: 3472
Dimensions: 8 and 1/2 inches overall
Condition: good antique original
Price: £16 GB
Status: For Sale

a fruit wood and steel gents buttonhook with brass collar

Item reference: 3461
Dimensions: 5 and 1/4 inches overall
Condition: good antique original
Price: £14 GB
Status: For Sale

a large Victorian silver handled BOOT buttonhook with London steel shank by Horton & Allday, established in 1860 at 195 Warstone Lane, Birmingham. The heavy silver handle depicts  the “Wind Man or Green Man” character (viz  a legendary being primarily interpreted as a symbol of rebirth, representing the cycle of new growth that occurs every spring. The Green Man is most commonly depicted in a sculpture, or other representation of a face which is made of, or completely surrounded by leaves). 

The BOOT hook is hallmarked Birmingham 1894 and has a registration design number  Rd 165399 confirming the design 1891

Item reference: 3467
Dimensions: 12 and 1/2 inches overall
Condition: good antique original
Price: £60 GB
Status: For Sale

although this Victorian silver handled buttonhook looks fairly unremarkable, the date of the assay gives a clue to it’s rarity. Most silver handled buttonhooks follow the ladies dress fashion of the late 1800’s, when boots became fashionable during the reign of Queen Victoria. The maker’s mark JRSJ is for Judah Rosenthal & Samuel Jacob, established in 1876 at 23 Southampton Street, Fitzroy Square, London. The London assay date letter “K” in a shield is for 1885 the assay also including  Victoria’s head. It is rare for English silver handled buttonhooks assayed earlier then 1888.

Item reference: 3463
Dimensions: 7 and 1/4 inches overall
Condition: good antique original
Price: £18 GB
Status: For Sale

a silver handled buttonhook with engraved floral design, possibly of German origin

Item reference: 3468
Dimensions: 8 inches overall
Condition: good original
Price: £16 GB
Status: For Sale

a Victorian silver handled BOOT buttonhook with spiral twist handle and London steel shaft.

Item reference: 3448
Dimensions: 10 inches overall
Condition: assay & makers' marks erased through a lifetime of use & sundry "dings"
Price: £15 GB
Status: For Sale

A Victorian silver handle BOOT buttonhook by Adie & Lovekin, established in 1879 at 23 Frederick Street, Birmingham. Although there are no assay marks, this design is  in the Buttonhook Society records as being produced between 1981 to 1899. It was produced in four sizes, this boot hook being the largest.

Item reference: 3377
Dimensions: 12 inches overall
Condition: good antique original
Price: £38 GB
Status: For Sale

a miniature glove hook with banded agate handle

Item reference: 3365
Dimensions: 2 and 1/2 inches overall
Condition: good antique original
Price: £12 GB
Status: For Sale