Victorian | Sterling Silver & Ivory Button Hook and Shoe Horn | London 1897 | Attributed to Samuel Fenton

An object made for the daily ritual of dressing in an era when dressing was itself a ritual — and still intact a century and a quarter later.

The combined button hook and shoe horn was a standard accessory of the late Victorian dressing table, produced in considerable quantities by London and Birmingham silversmiths during the 1880s and 1890s as part of the broader category of silver-mounted personal accessories that included brushes, mirrors, combs and nail implements. These pieces were typically given as gifts and were expected to present well alongside the other silver items of the dressing set. The pairing of a sterling silver collar and hallmarked mount with an ivory handle was the quality treatment of the period, the warm cream tone of the ivory and the bright silver of the mount complementing one another in a combination that was standard for the better examples of the form. This piece, hallmarked London 1897 and attributed to Samuel Fenton on the basis of the maker's mark, represents the form at its most refined — the ivory handle of generous proportions and good quality, the silver collar cleanly struck with the full hallmark sequence.

The handle is ivory, of broad, tapering form — wide at the shoe horn end and narrowing toward the silver collar. One face carries an engraved armorial crest of good quality. The silver collar is of plain cylindrical form, cleanly finished, and carries the hallmarks on its outer face. From the collar extends a slender steel shaft terminating in a small button hook. The reverse of the handle serves as a shoe horn, the broad flat form well-suited to the purpose. The ivory is sound and intact throughout, with the warm, mellowed tone of genuine old ivory.

The ivory handle is intact with no cracks or splits. The silver collar is sound with no damage. The steel shaft and button hook are intact and undamaged. The piece is in excellent condition for its age.

Note to buyer: This piece contains genuine ivory. The sale and purchase of antique ivory is subject to legal restrictions under CITES and applicable domestic legislation. Buyers are responsible for ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations in their jurisdiction before purchasing.

Key Details

• Materials: Ivory handle; sterling silver collar; steel shaft and button hook
• Assay Office: London
• Date: 1897
• Period: Late Victorian
• Maker: Attributed to Samuel Fenton — attribution based on maker's mark; unconfirmed
• Function: Combined button hook and shoe horn
• Dimensions: 27cm L × 4.5cm W
• Condition: Excellent for age

A piece made for the daily act of fastening buttons and easing on shoes has outlasted both the buttons and the shoes it served — which is the particular fate of well-made accessories.