Post-medieval triangular silver-gilt dress hook found by metal detector at Tichborne, Hampshire. Tudor, 16th century date.The dress hook has a cusped backplate applied with a recurving hook (broken), and attachment bar missing. On the front are 3 hemispheres with filigree roundels and central knops, at the centre is a pin with the shank attaching it to the backplate, with a pierced circle of silver in the form of a flowerhead which fits in the middle of the dress hook. The shank is damaged and the flowerhead element is loose. It would have originally been attached to the shank by a domed-headed pin.
Silver-gilt dress hook
Tudor, 16th century AD
Found by a metal detectorist at Tichborne, Hampshire in 2004
A very decorative object, even though the hook is now broken, and the attachment bar is missing. On the front of this object you can see three hemispheres decorated with filigree roundels and central knops. At the centre is a pierced silver flowerhead, now loose. Dress hooks were used in Tudor England to secure or close items of dress. Their use was probably restricted to female costume. As valuable metal wares, dress hooks were frequently listed in probate inventories and will lists in Tudor times.
