File:Complete but slightly damaged copper alloy dress-hook of sixteenth century date (AD 1500 – AD 1600). (FindID 88120).jpg

English: Complete but slightly damaged copper alloy dress-hook of sixteenth century date (AD 1500 – AD 1600). Length 33mm, Maximum width 13mm and maximum thickness 6mm. Weight 4.76g.

The piece is hollow and has a convex front and a flat rear plate. At the top is an integral hook for attachment.
In plan, it is of trapezoidal shape. The width at the top is 11mm and the sides flare gently and evenly outwards towards the bottom where the width is 13mm. At each long side is a rebate, a form of groove. Between these grooves is a longitudinal zone of cross-hatching in low relief and it is defined at the top and the bottom by a pair of parallel grooves. The integral hook at the top is 13mm in length and D-shaped in cross-section, the flat face is at the rear. The hook curves rearwards then downwards, so that its pointed half is almost parallel to the vertical plane and forms a condensed U-shape profile. It terminates with a sharp point. The back plate is flat and very thin and appears to have been soldered to the convex part which may have been cast. The back plate is perforated by a sub-circular aperture which enabled the dress-hook to be sewn into a garment. The aperture is about 7mm in diameter. However, due to a fracture in the plate, the aperture is now damaged. Very little patina has survived although there are scant traces of silver (or possibly tin) on the front face.
This dress-hook belongs to a class of three-dimensional novelty reproductions of everyday household objects. This example appears to represent a sewing thimble or possibly a form of grater.