Hallmarks
Silver hooks made in Britain carry hallmarks that, once read, give the assay office, the standard of silver, a date letter and often a maker’s mark. The date letter alone can fix the year of assay precisely. A loupe and a good hallmark reference are the collector’s two most useful companions.
Materials
Handles were made from a wide range of materials, each with its own period feel:
- Sterling silver — often hallmarked, sometimes loaded for weight.
- Mother-of-pearl & bone — popular for dressing-table sets.
- Ivory and horn — earlier and more costly pieces.
- Celluloid and early plastics — from the late 19th century onward.
- Steel and folding pocket hooks — the everyday, advertising and novelty pieces.
Form & function
Length and the shape of the hook itself hint at use: long-handled hooks for boots, short ones for gloves, folding hooks for the pocket or chatelaine. Advertising hooks naming a shop or product are a study in themselves and often easy to date by the firm.
Bring it to a meeting
The quickest route to a confident attribution is often to show a piece to fellow members. Our gatherings always include time for identification and discussion.