Monday 28 September 2009

Help! Do you know what this is?

I have inherited some vintage treasures from my Grandma's sewing box.
Vintage treasures from my Grandma's sewing box
An old thread box, and many wonderful buttons, many still on their original cards.
P1110150
But then there is this mysterious (to me!) tool. It is about 3.5 inches long.
P1110151
If anyone knows what this tool is and how it is used, I would love to know!

27 comments:

  1. My guess is either a button hook (for vintage button-up shoes), or a corset hook. But totally guessing here.

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  2. delurking to say that is indeed a button hook. Used for buttoning up shoes. Fun!

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  3. Yup, what they said! A button hook for those cool shoes/boots they used to wear with all the buttons.

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  4. Just wanted to pop in and say what great buttons, and that button hook is really pretty. What a fun piece of family history to have been given.

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  5. My Mom has her shoes from when she was one year old (she is 89 now) and the tool like you have that was used to button the shoes!!

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  6. I agree with everyone else - it is a button hook used in the 1800's and early 1900's. I use to give tours through a museum and there was one there.
    Karen
    http://karensquilting.com/blog/

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  7. How fun! I was going to guess a hook for hooked rugs! BUT the previous comments are so right! I love the buttons..and LOVE your stiching! You are so talented!

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  8. I inherited my mother in laws buttons and I have some of the exact same buttons!! WOW. That is a button hook to button shoes or the dresses with hundreds of buttons up the back.

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  9. My granny had one for buttoning up her boots. I wonder where it is now?

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  10. This is actually a button hook for gloves. It was used to button up gloves with one hand (since your other hand was wearing the glove). Lucky you. I'd love to have one of those (:

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  11. Yes - I remember seeing these in my old Mum's sewing drawer. She was born in 1914 but I'm not sure that she ever used them. They had belonged to my lovely old Grandma who was a tailoress and passed all her sewing bits and bobs to my Mum. Sadly she thought I wouldn't be interested in them and either threw them away or passed them on, along with some lovely jet boot buttons. How I wished I'd shown more of an interest!

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  12. Buttons are gorgeous, lucky you!

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  13. marvelous buttons !
    this is indeed a hook for the buttons on granny boots
    Arcadia

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  14. Definitely a button hook. I covet your buttons!

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  15. When we were little and my grandmother would find one of the grandchildren picking atm their nose, her comment was always..."Do you want a button hook?" It always makes me chuckle when I see a button hook all these years later.

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  16. I inherited one of those hooks from my grandmother who passed away on May the last year at the age of 100yrs. Mine is a silver plate piece and have engraved the name of the company in the backside of the handle, in the front is beautifully decorated. According with my Mom that one was used to button up any kind of things. What a delightful surprise seen yours in this post.

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  17. Nice treasures! Isn't it fun to see and handle such pretty old items? The button hook is a real keeper.

    By the way, check out a 100th post giveaway (nice little Halloween quilt) by a friend at:

    http://laurasbirdnest.blogspot.com/2009/09/100th-post-give-away.html

    Pass on the word!

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  18. hI!! It is a button hook for the high topped shoes that they used to wear. The one I have that I have lost was different - didn't have that nice handle.
    What a delight to receive all those gems.
    Love the buttons. I remember Grandma's dresses had some buttons similar to those!!
    Lucky girl. Take care of your antiques from a loved one.
    If you have a photo of her, you could make a shadow box with some of those items for your sewing room. What a conversation piece as well as sweet memory.
    Hugs to you,
    Jackie in San Antonio

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  19. I'm sure someone has already posted the answer, but it's a button hook.

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  20. Ditto, button-hook! Those corsets were nasty to do up!!! LOL!!
    Love your vintage goodies...nothing like old, colourful buttons to sort and play with!!!

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  21. Yup, everyone is correct. It's a button hook for button up shoes. I too inherited one in my Garndmother's workbox. Mine has an ornate silver handle. What wonderful treasures you have there.

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  22. A lovely example of a button hook. I've been collecting them for years and use them to decorate our tree at Christmas.

    Here is a link to some pictures. You can click to enlarge and get a closer look at some of them.

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  23. It is a button hook for high top shoes they wore long ago. How wonderful, I love old sewing boxes and have been blessed to recieve two in my lifetime from old family members.

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