SO Romantic! Edwardian Silver Handled Buttonhook with Cherub Holding a Flaming Torch

Here we have a lovely Buttonhook which has a romantic and passionate secret message!  It is decorated with a winged cherub holding a flaming torch with swags of flowers at his feet.  The Victorians and Edwardians used symbolism in jewellery and other personal objects to convey their feelings. The picture here shows that a lover has a burning passion for and 'carries a torch' for the recipient - just perfect for a groom to gift to his bride. This button hook is a good long size being approximately 7.5 inches in total length.  The steel and hook end is 5 inches and has the words 'steel, English made' on it. The Sterling silver part is the handle measuring about 2.5 inches by almost 1 inch.  The design on the  silver handle would have been machine stamped and the Cherub pattern is the same on both sides.  There is a Birmingham hallmark ( the anchor symbol) and the letter 'g' for the year 1906 and the makers mark is W.V & S.  This lovely piece of antique English silver is both very collectable and useful - perfect for fastening( or unfastening)  tiny buttons on a wedding gown!

A Testimonial from Mrs. Jemma Traynor -

'Thank you for the buttonhook, it was the most useful thing for helping with the small buttons on the back of my silk wedding dress.  My bridesmaid found it so easy to use.  We both think that it saved her manicured nails from any damage too!  I also have a pretty antique as a keepsake and feel sure that it may come in handy again.'

More information for collectors -

There is a strong  interest in buttons and buttonhooks of all kinds not just in the UK but across Continental Europe and the USA too.   A recommended publication is the Shire Book 'Buttonhooks and Shoehorns'  ISBN 0-85263-696-2 which traces the origins of these collectables. With lots of photos, it explains the various types of hook :-glove hooks, boot buttonhooks, combination hooks with a shoehorn etc.,  the many materials used to make them:-real gold and silver, to steels with other handles - mother of pearl, horn, ivory, bone, early plastics, bakelite, celluloid and other metals. There is information about how they were used for early advertising and  the methods of manufacture in the 19th Century and early 20th Century and the reasons why they became popular and, as fashions changed, fell out of favour.