Haakpen van kunststof c. 1900 - 1950

John Vicars crafted this small, plastic crochet hook. Crochet, a technique historically passed down through generations of women, embodies a domestic artistry often undervalued despite its intricate skill and cultural significance. The use of plastic here is interesting; it speaks to shifting economic landscapes as plastic represents the democratization of materials. In previous centuries tools like this would have been fashioned from bone or wood by skilled tradesmen. In contrast, here we see a mass-produced object readily available to the masses. Consider the acts of labor and leisure intertwined in the loops and knots created with this hook. The repeated, almost meditative motion of crochet provided not just a means to produce utilitarian objects, but also a creative outlet. This crochet hook is more than a simple tool; it represents a connection to heritage, a form of personal expression, and the quiet strength found in traditionally feminine crafts.