I recently bought a partially filled but beautiful c.1820 French Palais Royal sewing box, intending to sell off its parts separately. Here you have the folding crochet hook or tambour in perfectly preserved mother of pearl with 18k gold collars and one original steel crochet hook of good size (most are super-thin). I've shown it both open and closed (the hook protected inside the handle). Full measurements are noted on the photos.
Very good to excellent for age and type, not a single flaw to the stunning Napoleon era carved mother of pearl handle and fitting, and both of the worked 18k gold collars remain with it. The single old steel crochet hook mounted does show some typical steel corrosion but not much - more a darkening. It is a larger gauge, though I'm unsure - about 2mm in size. Most we find are very thin but this is more sturdy. The final photos show you the fitting in the original Palais Royal sewing box (all pieces and box sold separately since it was not a complete set).
