Monday, 29 October 2012
V&A Handling Session
Chatelaine - 18th century, cut steel, worn at the waist with attachments such as mirrors, sewing tools, every day tools for use in every day life for the working woman.
French word for 'mistress of the castle' who used to carry all responsibility in running the household. The mistress of the castle would have keys suspended from her waist.
This chatelaine would have been made by a metalsmith rather than a jeweller as these types of chatelaines would have been gifted as a functional item, hence the heavy weight ready to deal with wear and tear of every day life.
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