Belt Hook thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Belt Hook

1832-1867 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The definition of jewellery varies from country to country. In some places, including the south of Italy, sewing aids are routinely included. They were often as decorative and valuable as the rest of the owner’s jewellery, and were worn visibly in the same way.

This belt slide is for knitting. The owner put the end of one of her knitting needles into the long cone at the front while she was knitting, and looped the yarn through the hook at the bottom to keep it flowing smoothly. There are two vertical bars on the back, through which she slid her belt, so that it would be held firmly in place whenever she had time for a little work.

It was bought as part of the Castellani collection of Italian Peasant Jewellery at the International Exhibition, Paris, 1867.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Cast silver
Brief description
Silver belt hook for knitting, Naples (Italy), 1832-1867.
Physical description
Silver belt hook, consisting of a cast openwork plaque in the shape of a lyre. There is a long conical container attached to the front, ending at the base in an upcurved hook. There are two vertical bars on the back, so that it can be worn on a belt. Partly gilded on the front, at top and bottom.
Dimensions
  • Length: 8.7cm
  • Width: 6.3cm
  • Depth: 2.3cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • woman's head with '8' in a rectangular frame (On front, on lower edge, at left.)
    Translation
    Part of the mark for 833 standard silver, Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (southern Italy), 1832-1872
  • illegible letters in square frame (On front, on lower edge, at right.)
Subject depicted
Summary
The definition of jewellery varies from country to country. In some places, including the south of Italy, sewing aids are routinely included. They were often as decorative and valuable as the rest of the owner’s jewellery, and were worn visibly in the same way.

This belt slide is for knitting. The owner put the end of one of her knitting needles into the long cone at the front while she was knitting, and looped the yarn through the hook at the bottom to keep it flowing smoothly. There are two vertical bars on the back, through which she slid her belt, so that it would be held firmly in place whenever she had time for a little work.

It was bought as part of the Castellani collection of Italian Peasant Jewellery at the International Exhibition, Paris, 1867.
Bibliographic references
  • 'Italian Jewellery as worn by the Peasants of Italy', Arundel Society, London, 1868, Plate 10
  • For a similar example, see: Catalogue, ‘l'Ornamento Prezioso’, Rome/Milan, 1986, Tab.42, fig. 221
Collection
Accession number
239-1868

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Record createdFebruary 13, 2009
Record URL
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