Hooks. A blessing or a curse?

Had we not invented the hook, walking upright instead of on all fours might have been less of an advantage. We hang all sorts of things on all types of hooks.
These hand-forged hooks are made from untreated iron. The surface is not ‘fixed' and so they change, depending on humidity, temperature and age. Oil them occasionally to prevent corrosion, either way they are a pleasure to handle. They have a tendency to rust if left outside or in the bathroom, but can be cleaned with steel wool. You can also change their appearance by brushing or sanding them. For longer lasting protection use flax oil.

Hook 1:
The original. Crude iron.

The archetypal hook. A piece of hand-forged iron. You can see every hammer blow. These are made in a forge near Hamburg.

Hardware. Bits and pieces.

Real ironmongers are slowly becoming a thing of the past - stocked to the gunnels with paraphernalia, some gadgets you're never quite sure what to do with while others are rather fun and don't really need a purpose.

Ironmongery.

The modern world of metal shimmers with the reflections of stainless steel and chrome. They eclipse the raw material which has its own beauty: crude iron. We have shown previously that lesser-grade steel and iron are superior to stainless steel, for example for cutting and cooking. You can see from these items that crude iron has an aesthetic charm all of its own.