A buttonhook is a tool used to facilitate the closing of shoes, gloves or other apparel that uses buttons as fasteners.
It consists of a steel hook fixed to a handle which may be simple or decorative as part of a dresser set or chatelaine. Sometimes they were given away as promotions with product advertising on the handle.
To use, the hook end is inserted through the buttonhole to capture the button by the shank and draw it through the opening.[1]