DRESS HOOK

Silver hat hook, a composite circular tag. A circular back plate (of diameter 18.4mm) with its edge punctuated by equidistant holes of diameter 1.4mm with paired radially incised lines between each pair on the display face, and with a curved hook soldered to its back. A second disc (of diameter 15.7mm) with a raised semi-circular section rim bearing closely spaced radial nicks conferring a vermiform appearance and a projecting flat edge around this is set over the back plate with the edge of the latter visible behind it. A third flat disc (of diameter 11.7mm) with a finely fringed edge is secured centrally by a silver rivet of diameter 1.5mm which has been snipped and bent to hold the assemblage together. The display faces of the back plate and intermediate plate appear to retain traces of gilding.

Tom Redmayne kindly comments as follows: 'Because of the S-shaped hook on the reverse, I would say that this is a hat-hook rather than a regular hooked tag and, therefore, a Read early post-medieval Class A, Type 1 (Read 2008, pp.191-193; nos. 708-715)'.

Curatorial Report, Dora THORNTON: ~~Curator of Renaissance Collections, British Museum

Description: Cap badge, circular with pierced border damaged between ten and twelve o'clock, with a broken 'S' shaped pin on the reverse. On the front two layers of petal- like decoration with an outer pierced border which might also be used for sewing the badge to a hat. Central element, originally pinned from the back is now missing. Border gilded.

Discussion: This is a man's cap badge as worn in the early 16th Century on a black woollen cap. Similar examples have been reported through PAS. For the original flower- like appearance of this cap badge and for the likely form of the central missing element see British Museum, 2010, 8019.1, which was acquired through the Treasure Act in 2009 [2009 T99].