Hook, loop, silver, wood?

[batcap]

I found this at a sidewalk jewelry sale. Boxes and boxes of costume jewelry from the last 60-80 years or older. Anyone else would have paid $1, but since I'm a known scrapper it cost me $2. I'm certain there isn't $2 in sterling here, but it's an oddball item - I just liked it, so I bought it. Now I want to know what it is.

The pictures are macro. If you laid two Lincoln cents side by side you would have both the height and width of this object. I'm confident of the silver by the tarnish, but I'm not certain that the loop is wood. What is it, and what's it worth?

 

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[Tuberale]

I don't think that's wood ... maybe bone.

 

[Breezie]

So you're saying the entire item is approximately 2 inches by 2 inches? It could be an early 'hook & eye,' or a necklace closure/extender, but I'd like to see it photographed with an item for comparison. Breezie

 

[batcap]

So you're saying the entire item is approximately 2 inches by 2 inches? It could be an early 'hook & eye,' or a necklace closure/extender, but I'd like to see it photographed with an item for comparison. Breezie

Sure, here's 3 more. Although I say she sells jewelry, it could be just about anything that ended up in someones pocket. There have been foreign coins, tax and bus tokens, cigarette lighters, souvenir spoons and trinkets, and military ID "dog tags" and actual dog licenses at one time or another.
There's one pic to get a better look at the tip of the hook where it seems to spread out and there appears to be a little groove in it.

 

[Tuberale]

With your additional photos, I can state with near certainty the material isn't wood. Almost all wood species have growth rings, visible in every inch. I see no visible growth rings in the handle, ergo it isn't wood.

I think it likely the handle is bone of some type. The gnawing on the ring seems to bear that out: in nature mice gnaw on bone, but nearly never on wood, unless they're trying to get through something to something else. Like beaver, other rodents' teeth continue to grow throughout their lives. If they stop eroding their teeth through gnawing on bone or similar hard material, their teeth literally will kill them.

In nature, bone or antler provide the harder gnawable material to erode teeth. One reason why bones on top of the ground don't last very long.

 

[Dano Sverige]

Ladies boot or corset hook maybe?

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

batcap ~

I am assuming you can not insert a finger through the hole - except maybe a tip. Is this correct? And it "might" be ivory.

Thanks.

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[SODABOTTLEBOB]

Although I don't have a picture to support it yet, I came across something described as a ...

"Antique Button Extender - Hook and Eye"

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

My so called button search led me to this item which is described as a ...

~ Civil War "Knapsack Hook" ~

I will be the first to point out that the item in question looks too fancy for something like this - and that it isn't quite right - but it may be a clue that will lead to other clues - and eventually help in the final identification. I have to keep reminding myself the item is super small, and in my opinion, likely not a "tool." But rather an "accessory" of some kind.

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[Breezie]

My first thoughts were early 'hook & eye' or a jewelry extender. Dano is correct, it is a corset hook & eye. Here is a excerpt from The Civil War Lady:

The third layer was the corset. Corsets were not used to get the very thin waistline, or to give a woman a busty boost. They were simply designed so that it would give a smooth line from the waist to the bust of the woman. They were constructed of whale bone sewn into cotton. There were hook and eye clasps on the front and it laced up in the back

http://thecivilwarlady.webs.com/theeverydaydress.htm

 

[Tuberale]

Just noticed the tiny notch in the center of the metal lip. Might have been used for prying something upward/outward? So entire object may be a finger pry, as for a tiny nail or brad?

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

I'm usually pretty good at finding images, especially when I know in advance what a particular item is. But why can't I find a picture of a "antique" corset ...

"Hook and Eye Clasp"

... that matches the item in question?



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Here's a link with a glimpse into 250 years of corsets.
http://www.antiquecorsetgallery.com/index.php

[ Front View of 1870 Corset ]

 

[Tuberale]

Considering the small notch at the end and apparent use by a finger to pry something with, could this be a pin puller?

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

I'm not sure yet - but I may be on the trail to something. I will let you know just as soon as I find something more substantial. So far the measurements are about right. It's the "different hook" aspect that currently has me confused

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[ This item measures appx 1 1/2" in length ]

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

I give up! I don't know what the heck it is! It was looking pretty good there for a minute as being a ...

"Glove Button Hook"

... which are super small, with some having an eye on the end to wear like a necklace.

Here's a link if you would like to read more about glove button hooks, which is where I got the picture I posted.

Link: http://www.squidoo.com/button-hooks-and-shoehorns

~ * ~

I predict this is going to come down to the hook aspect of the item as being the major clue. But it totally eludes me as to what it could be used fore. Unless it's something that has been modified and "bent over." But I seriously doubt that is the case.

Later alligators. I'll be watching to see what ya come up with.

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[batcap]

It was really hard to tear myself away from researching corset hardware, but nothing looked much like this. For reference, the loop will barely fit a pencil, too small for a child's finger or a dress shirt button.

Maybe my pictures are too big. Look again at the pic with the pencil and cent. I could snap this easily with one hand by bending between my fingers and thumb. I wouldn't trust it to hang a winter coat, let alone keep my pants up. I wouldn't dangle a 1 lb. live fish from it. I would consider using it to hang a tee shirt to dry. It could hold up a sock if the elastic gave out.

We may never know for sure, maybe it's an example of a bad idea that died before becoming widespread.

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

I was looking at some pretty weird dental and surgical stuff earlier, and may give it another look-see. Maybe it hooked to a lower lip so the dentist could yank your tooth out! Ouch!

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[SODABOTTLEBOB]

batcap ~

This should be close to actual size. Now I'm thinking "jewelry."

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[SODABOTTLEBOB]

I found this which is described as a ...

"Antique Hook Necklace"

I wonder if there is some kind of symbolism here that we are not aware of yet?



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[batcap]

batcap ~

This should be close to actual size. Now I'm thinking "jewelry."

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On a 20" 4:3 monitor set to 1280x1024, your pic is a perfect fit. I couldn't have done better having the original in my hand. I imagine that picture would look different on a 17" running 800x600 or a 20" running 1024x768.

You showed me a very similarly styled hook and loop object used as a pendant. They probably didn't know what their object was either. It does however remind me of the joke about the waiter with the spoon and thread. I'll leave that for whoever cares to Google it.

That said, barring objections, I'll call this case solved tomorrow evening.