Dress Hooks (4 pairs)

Many of you have seen the objects, usually described as “dress hooks” or “hooked-clasps.” They are extremely numerous among archeological finds from the 15th and 16th centuries. And if you are like us, you’ve scratched your head and wondered what part of dress they hooked. We have several answers for you – and we are glad to hear about other uses you have found. These objects are called “cloak hooks” (mantelhaken) in Nederlands – and perhaps they are. There are late medieval/early modern painting that show them sewn to the end of a tape and slung forward over the hips to hold up skirts out of the mud.

They are sold in sets of four.

These hooks are copied from one published in Schatten uit de Schelde, found in Nieuwlande. There are many other similar items, ranging in date from the late 15th well into the 16th century, described in Brian Read, Hooked Clasps and Eyes.