DRESS HOOK

2017 T816: Disclaimed and returned to finder

Description: A silver gilt dress hook of 16^th century date. The hook is piriform in plan, and D-shaped in cross section, consisting of a hollow boss affixed to a backplate with a cusped outer edge. The boss is decorated with applied pellets and beaded wire, arranged into three circles flanking a fourth, each containing a central applied pellet. The flanking circles contain three further circles, arranged around the pellet, with the same arrangement at the interstices between the outer circles. Several elements of the design have been misplaced, whilst the edge has been damaged in several places. A separate sub-circular sectioned, backwards curving hook is soldered onto the pointed end of the reverse of the plate, whilst the scars left be a soldered attachment loop are visible at the broader end.

Dimensions: length 30.0mm; width 14.8mm; thickness 6.7; weight 3.08g.

Discussion: Similar dress hooks are commonly reported through the Treasure act and are recorded onto the PAS database, see for example: 2015T882 (Tyrell 2015), 2015T856 (Tyacke 2015), 2015TRW19 (Redknap 2017). Documentary evidence indicates that these items were popular in the sixteenth century, with the latest inventory referencing them dated to 1598 (Gaimster et al 2002: 184).

The dress-hook appears to consist of over 10% precious metal and be over 300 years old at the time of finding and as such qualifies as potential Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996.

Wil Partridge

Finds Liaison Officer for Devon and Somerset

October 2017