Wednesday, November 7, 2007

C19th Mystery Object


My grandmother gave me this mystery object when I was a very little kid.

I don't expect she thought I'd ever have the need to use it. But then again, maybe she was hinting at something. After all, I did like wearing her old high-heel shoes. But the truth is I never attempted period drag. Or in fact any kind after the age of five or six.

She had it from her mother so it's Victorian-Edwardian, I guess around 1890-1910. It's 8.5 cms long. And no sensible lady you would never be caught dead without one in her purse ... especially if she were sexually active, consorting with persons she fancied other than her husband and was outside the family home!

Okay, so any ideas about its function?

And what it's called? A clue - it's a six-letter word starting with 'g'.

Please have a couple of guesses first guys. And then all will be revealed in the next couple of days!

6 comments:

  1. davidbeale_uk@yahoo.co.ukNovember 7, 2007 at 2:56 AM

    it is in fact a button hook. you poked it though the eye of the foot button and hooked the button though. i worked in a museum once and we had lots

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  2. ditto to above-cant tnhink what word you refer to that begins with 'g'

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  3. i suspect it has become usage in australia to call this object a gimlet, though strictly this word has another meaning related to tools with pointy or screw endings

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  4. looks like a glove hook...not 6 letters though so...

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  5. BUTTON OR SHOE HOOK USED FOR FASTENING AMONG OTHE THINGS BUTTON UP SHOES,AND GARMENTS

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