Tudor Silver-Gilt Rosette Dress Hook

Object Description

An elaborate Tudor silver-gilt dress hook comprised of a gilded backplate in the shape of six-pointed rosette, decorated with filigree annulets and pellets. The obverse features a convex plate decorated in the centre with three large ungilded silver granules placed against a gilded dome, and four filigree quatrefoils with smaller pellets in the middle of each. The edges of the plate are finely and elaborately cut. Each of the six points of the rosette is embellished with a silver prong. To the reverse, a hook extends from the bottom of the plate and a suspension loop would have been soldered to the top. The loop would have been used to attach to clothing and the hook used to hoist up excess material or re-arrange fabric.

Date: Circa 16th Century AD

Object History

From a private Wiltshire jewellery collection; acquired on the UK art market between 1979 and 1996; from a 1970s collection.

Object Condition

Good condition. The bottom of the hook is broken. The suspension loop is broken. Wear to the gilding throughout.

Object Details