Since the 19th century a variety of holders were manufactured in an attempt to maintain strings under control and prevent their tangling.
From the beginning, the classic string holder shape was the metallic beehive, but, over the years, many other more decorative forms and materials were used to hold this household and office utility.
Examples were made in ceramic, pottery, china, chalkware, wood and glass assuming a variety of shapes (conical, globular, oval, dome) and figures (animals, humans, fruits, vegetables) following the raging fashion of  'novelties' of the early 1900s.
In this page are illustrated some decorative string holders made in sterling silver and silverplate.