French Ivory button hook

Vintage Button hook, an antique dressing aid used for fastening the numerous small buttons common on Victorian and Edwardian-era clothing, such as high-button boots, gloves, and corsets. The handle appears to be made of an animal material such as bone or bovine bone, a common material for these tools. Key Details Purpose: Button hooks were essential tools that allowed people to dress themselves when buttons were impossibly small or tightly spaced on stiff material, which was common before zippers became widespread after World War I. Design: The tool uses a small, durable steel wire hook which is inserted through the buttonhole to capture the button's shank and pull it through the opening. Materials: Handles for these items were made from various materials including wood, celluloid, sterling silver, or bone