button devices

How to engage the slide show:

click on the first image on the left of the gallery below, then select the arrow at the bottom left of the enlarged image. Or you can manually go to the next slide by hovering your cursor on the middle right side then clicking the arrow that appears. Hover your cursor on the middle left side then click the arrow that appears to go backwards. Close the slide show or manual show by clicking the X button on the lower right of the image. (The image of each button is followed by an image of that button's back or reverse side.)

Acknowledgments, References and information for this category are at the bottom of this page.

Button Country

An Educational Resource for Button Collectors - originally created by Paul Rice

Div. IV Section 4 : Button Hooks and Related Devices

4-1 Functional design - Button Hook - Metal, Wood, Bone & Composition (5-1/2") Hook greater than 1/2 inch

4-1 Functional design - Button Hook - Wood (10-1/2") Hook greater than 1/2 inch - Patent Feb. 26, 84

4-1 Functional design - Glove hook - Moss Agate (2-1/2") Hook less than 1/2 inch

4-1 Functional design - Button Hook - Steel (5-1/2") Hook greater than 1/2 inch

4-1 Functional design - Button Hook - Enamel on Sterling (6-1/2") BM "521"

4-1 Functional design - Button Hook - Banded Agate (7-3/4")

4-1 Functional design - Button Hook - Antler (5")

4-1 Functional design - Button Hook (Combined Hook & Shoe Horn) Celluloid (6")

4-1 Functional design - Button Hook - Bone (5")

4-1 Functional design - Button Hook - Celluloid (6")

4-1 Functional design - Button Hook - Wood (4-1/2")

4-1 Functional design - Button Hook - Gold Plate (3-1/2")

4-1 Functional design - Button Hook - Single Wire Steel (3-1/2")

4-1 Functional design - Button Hook - Celluloid (5-1/2")

4-1 Functional design - Button Hook - Mother-of-Pearl (3-1/2")

4-1 Functional design - Button Hook - Gold Plate (4")

4-1 Functional design - Button Hook - Celluloid with Paint DF (8-1/4")

4-1 Functional design - Button Hook - Imitation Tortoise Bakelite (5-1/2")

4-1 Functional design - Button Hook - Nickel Plate (5-1/2")

4-1 Functional design - Button Hook - Abalone (5-1/2")

4-1 Functional design - Button Hook - Celluloid with Paint DF (7")

4-1 Functional design - Button Hook - Celluloid with Celluloid Inlay (6-1/2")

4-1 Functional design - Button Hook - Celluloid with Pearl and Paste OME (3-1/2")

4-1 Functional design - Button Hook - Wood with White Metal OME (6-1/2")

4-1 Functional design - Button Hook - Bone with Paint DF (6")

4-1 Functional design - Button Hook - Steel with Paint DF (6")

4-1 Functional design - Button Hook - Stag Horn (5-1/2")

4-1 Functional design - Loop hook - Banded Quartz (3")

4-1 Functional design - Loop hook - Bone (3-3/8")

4-1 Functional design - Loop hook - Silver

4-1 Functional design - Loop hook - Painted Wood

4-1 Functional design - Loop hook - Brass Fob (1-7/8")

4-1 Functional design - Fob (Ring on Handle) Mosaic (2-3/4")

4-1 Functional design - Mechanical (Telescoping Ring on handle) Brass (6")

4-1 Functional design - Mechanical - Folding Brass Shoe Horn & Hook (5") Patent "10-9-17"

4-1 Functional design - Mechanical (Folding) - Bakelite (5-1/2") BM "Made in France"

4-1 Functional design - Mechanical (Folding) Steel (4-1/4")

4-1 Functional design - Mechanical - White metal

4-1 Functional design - Mechanical - Tools (Hook/Scissors) Steel (2-1/2")

4-1 Functional design - Mechanical - Multiple tools - Nickel plated (3-1/2") BM: Pat. Pending

4-1 Functional design - Mechanical (Folding) Brass (3")

4-1 Functional design - Mechanical (Folding) Brass (2-1/2")

4-1 Functional design - Mechanical Knife (Combination of Tools) Celluloid (2-1/2")

4-1 Functional design - Mechanical Tools (Pencil-pen knife- scraper-button hook) Brass (2-1/2")

4-1 Functional design - Mechanical (Folding) Polished steel and brass Collet (3-1/2")

4-2 Handle design - Advertising - Brass - Loop hook (4-1/2")

4-2 Handle design - Advertising - Folding - White Metal

4-2 Handle design - Advertising - Steel (5-1/2")

4-2 Handle design - Advertising - White Metal (3")

4-2 Handle design - Advertising - Metal (3-1/2")

4-2 Handle design - Advertising - Steel (2-7/8") Patd. 1897 Aug. 10

4-2 Handle design - Advertising - Brass - Single Wire (3-1/2")

4-2 Handle design - Art Nouveau - Sterling (8")

4-2 Handle design - Art Nouveau - Nickel plated Fob (Ring on Handle) (7")

4-2 Handle design - Art Nouveau - Sterling Silver & MOP (3-1/2'') BM "115"

4-2 Handle design - Art Nouveau - Sterling Silver (7")

4-2 Handle design - Art Nouveau - Sterling Silver (5-1/2")

4-2 Handle design - Art Nouveau - Sterling Silver (4-1/2")

4-2 Handle design - Art Nouveau - Sterling silver (6")

4-2 Handle design - Trench art - Tinted metal (6")

4-2 Handle design - Trench art - Metals (5-1/2")

4-2 Handle design - Figural - Celluloid (5-3/4")

4-2 Handle design - Figural - Sterling (5-3/4")

4-2 Handle design - Figural - White Metal (3-5/8")

4-2 Handle design - Figural - Celluloid (5")

4-2 Handle design - Realistic (Claw holding a ball) - Sterling with Glass Ball (4-1/2")

4-2 Handle design - Realistic (Saber) 14K Gold (2")

4-2 Handle design - Pictorial - Brass and Steel (2")

4-2 Handle design - Pictorial - 14K Gold (8-1/4") BM "Pat.1878"

4-2 Handle design - Pictorial - Sterling (4-1/2")

4-2 Handle design - Pictorial - Composition with Shell Inlay (6-3/4")

4-2 Handle design - Pictorial - Yellow metal (6-1/2")

4-2 Handle design - Pictorial - Sterling Silver (4")

4-2 Handle design - Pictorial - Sterling with Black Glass OME on top (5-1/2")

4-2 Handle design - Verbal - Ceramic (4")

1897 Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalogue

To download and print a pdf of the history and information about Buttonhooks click here.

Some descriptions of these buttons may be cut off. Full descriptions can be seen in the slide show mode.

Full pictures of the images can be seen in the slide show mode.

Back to Related Specialties

Acknowledgements: Thanks to the collaborators who made examples from their collections available for the images shown on these pages. They include P. Jean Champoux, Anne Frasier, Pat Koehler, Anne Marie Broom, Lou Yeargain, Suzanne Marsh, Shelly Strick and Anne Dickerson. Others who contributed reviews, comments and support include Pat Fields, Pat Koehler, and Barbara Barrans. A special thanks to Joan Lindsay & Joy Journeay for their expert editing skills!

References:

(1) National Button Society Blue Book, Official NBS Classification and Competition Guidelines

(2) The Buttonhook Society - Maidstone, Kent ME14 9BA, United Kingdom

(3) Cynthia L. Compton: Buttonhooks, Collecting and Price Guide, Andrew Black & Associates, Publisher

(4) Lena Jackson: Vintage Fashions, The Ultimate Authority, March/April 1990

(5) Kathy E. Kear: Antique Week, May 19, 1997

Credits and References Credits:

(1) 1897 Sears, Roebuck & Co. Catalogue, Chelsea House Publishers, 1968