Victorian Black Lacquered Mourning Chatelaine

In the days before pockets became en vogue in ladies fashion, women took a more fashionable approach to keeping their daily tools and necessities on hand -- by wearing a chatelaine!

A more aesthetically pleasing take on today's Swiss Army Knife, a chatelaine is a decorative hook that is worn over a belt or waist sash. Dangling from the hook are a series of chains suspending varied household tools. From watches and keys to scissors and pencils, what a wearer would attach to their chatelaine varied depending on the occasion as well as their overall daily life needs. 

Chatelaines can range in style from simple to ornate; decorative to utilitarian.

Although they have been  worn and utilized since Medieval times, chatelaines saw a fashion resurgence in the latter half of the 19th century thanks in part to Princess Alexandra of Wales (Queen Victoria's daughter-in-law) and her fondness for wearing one.

This particular chatelaine is a bit more unusual than most in that it has been painted in a matte black lacquer leading us to believe that it was mostly likely worn during the mourning process. We have scoured books, old catalogs and the internet and have been unable to find another one like it, so this is definitely a rare treat! 

This highly decorative and intricate piece is all original and features three griffin motifs on the hook -- a symbol of bravery and vigilance -- surrounded by small flowers and acorns, which serve as symbols of strength and new beginnings. 

Dangling from the chains we have a small notepad with ivory pages (with a handwritten date of 1897), a thimble in its holder, a pair of ornate scissors and holder, a pincushion and a retractable pencil. 

The waist hook has been wrapped in black grosgrain ribbon to protect the wearer's delicate garment fabrics.