Pig Pin Cushions. Pin cushions in the form of pigs are an excellent way to start a collection of novelty pin cushions. They are probably one of the most frequently found pin cushions and subsequently the cheapest. They range in sizes from very small  to large.

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Silver Thimbles. Thimbles are usually made from metal, leather, rubber, and wood, and even glass or china. Early thimbles were sometimes made from whale bone, horn, or ivory. Natural sources were also utilized such as Connemara marble, bog oak, or mother of pearl. Rarer works from thimble makers utilized diamonds, sapphires, or rubies.

Advanced thimble makers enhanced thimbles with semi-precious stones to adorn the apex or along the outer rim. Cabochon adornments are sometimes made of cinnabar, agate, moonstone, or amber. Thimble artists would also utilize enameling, or the Guilloché techniques advanced by Peter Carl Fabergé.

In the 19th century, many thimbles were made from silver; however, it was found that silver is too soft a metal and can be easily punctured by most needles.

Charles Horner solved the problem by creating thimbles consisting of a steel core covered inside and out by silver, so that they retained their aesthetics but were now more practical and durable. He called his thimble the Dorcas, and these are now popular with collectors. There is a small display of his work in Bankfield Museum, Halifax, England. Reference:  Wikipedia

Below are some examples of silver thimbles which have been used throughout history.

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Functional buttons with buttonholes for fastening or closing clothes appeared first in Germany in the 13th century. They soon became widespread with the rise of snug-fitting garments in 13th- and 14th-century Europe. Reference: Wikipedia

Below are some examples of silver buttons which have been used throughout history.

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Button Hooks are small hooks for fastening a button on shoes or gloves. Antique Button Hooks are very collectible due to their attractive and often elaborate handles. Different sizes were used for gloves and shoes. Button Hooks were very popular in the Victorian and Edwardian era especially after the invention of a sewing machine, by James Morely in 1880, which was used to attach buttons to high top shoes in 1880. The buttons themselves were usally made of fibre or glass.

High top shoes went out of fashion during World War I. This was because leather was scarce through this time. At this time button hooks also became less popular but are still a delight to collectors and with fashion coming and going throughout the ages, can still have a practical purpose today.

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