What is this peculiar hook-like object?
January 4, 2010 9:24 AM Subscribe
Can you help me identify this object?
A friend of mine was recently given it as a gift (from a work colleague) along with a snarky comment that if "you need any help working out what it is just ask me". The underside of the jewelled section is padded rubber, and the "hook" section rotates, which has made me think that it is possibly a hook designed to hang off a shelf (like this if you'll excuse my crude mspaint representation). While that explanation seems semi-logical (looking at the thing) it seems like a bizarre device. Have you ever seen one of these things before? If so what was it actually for?
A friend of mine was recently given it as a gift (from a work colleague) along with a snarky comment that if "you need any help working out what it is just ask me". The underside of the jewelled section is padded rubber, and the "hook" section rotates, which has made me think that it is possibly a hook designed to hang off a shelf (like this if you'll excuse my crude mspaint representation). While that explanation seems semi-logical (looking at the thing) it seems like a bizarre device. Have you ever seen one of these things before? If so what was it actually for?
Best answer: I think it is a purse hook. You place the weighted jewel part on the table, letting the hook hang over the edge and hang your purse on it.
posted by soelo at 9:25 AM on January 4, 2010
posted by soelo at 9:25 AM on January 4, 2010
Best answer: That is a purse hook. It's to put on the table at a restaurant and hang your purse from, so it's not on the floor or your lap or hanging off the back of your chair where someone could easily snatch it.
posted by padraigin at 9:25 AM on January 4, 2010
posted by padraigin at 9:25 AM on January 4, 2010
Response by poster: A purse hook! Yet another triumph of the hive mind, thanks so much!
posted by nfg at 9:30 AM on January 4, 2010
posted by nfg at 9:30 AM on January 4, 2010
Funny, looked like apiercing--belly button probably-- to me.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 9:43 AM on January 4, 2010
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 9:43 AM on January 4, 2010
(Re: Piercing.) Well, it was hard to figure out the scale from the photo.
posted by clvrmnky at 9:52 AM on January 4, 2010
posted by clvrmnky at 9:52 AM on January 4, 2010
It's so embarrassing to know what that is! It's only because I worked at The Container Store one year when they sold them. I had to pretend that those things were actually more useful than, say, the back of a chair.
posted by AquaAmber at 9:58 AM on January 4, 2010
posted by AquaAmber at 9:58 AM on January 4, 2010
They actually are more useful than the back of a chair.
Not all restaurants have chairs with square backs. Restaurants with narrow aisles can mean your purse is in the way. Putting your purse on the back of your chair means having it behind you, where it's easily picked.
posted by jacquilynne at 10:22 AM on January 4, 2010
Not all restaurants have chairs with square backs. Restaurants with narrow aisles can mean your purse is in the way. Putting your purse on the back of your chair means having it behind you, where it's easily picked.
posted by jacquilynne at 10:22 AM on January 4, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by oinopaponton at 9:25 AM on January 4, 2010