Women's Watches and Chatelaines
"Women did not wear breeches with fob pockets, so while men hid their watches in a fob pocket and let the watch chain hang from it, women wore their watches at the hanging end of their equipages in full view:
Equipages pinned or clipped to the waistband of a woman’s petticoat since she didn’t have a fob pocket. Others were designed to be worn hooked over a sash, like those worn over zone-front gowns. The weren’t just for watches, but could also include a multitude of accessories, grooming tools, sewing implements, or small vials of perfume and did not necessarily have to include a watch–some were more like suspended sewing kits–"
"In the wardrobe of the 18th century ladies was an accessory, which now fashionable women never dreamed of – it’s decorative belt hook, which was called Chatelaine...is a belt hook...on which they wore a wide variety of items: notebooks, knives, thimbles, measuring tapes, thermometers. Chatelaine was much more convenient than modern handbags in which their owners have to dig frantically to find something. In the early 18th century Chatelaine has gained more and more popularity among the aristocratic society. The rapid growth was assisted by the popularity of wearing mechanical watches. Mechanical pocket watch attached to a chain – the type of Chatelaine."
"Before purses or pockets, people carried their important tools or accessories dangling from pins or hooks attached to their belts. Decorative as well as practical, these belts, known as chatelaines, could hold scissors, watches, writing instruments, notebooks, eyeglasses, etc. (They enjoyed widespread use until the 1900s). Made of cut steel, the chatelaine below includes: a disc-shaped pin cushion, a button hook, a thimble holder with steel thimble, a folding corkscrew for perfume bottles and a decorative cut-steel attachment. Despite some rust on the steel due to age, this piece remains in very good condition. Intact chatelaines, like this, are very rare. Over the years, people dismantled many of these to use the tools as pendants."
Parasol
"The history of sunshades goes back thousands of years, but it was during the Italian Renaissance of the 16th century that umbrellas and parasols were introduced to Europe. At first the items were large, used interchangeably, and generally carried by a servant to protect the wealthy from the elements and sun. Some were heavy (made of leather) but silk, paper, and cotton grew in popularity. During the 1700s parasols had already evolved into a woman’s fashion item, designed and decorated to match each promenade dress or walking suit, and was clearly defined as a sunshade; not for rain and snow. To make them collapsible developed around 1800, but ribs would break, paper tear, and the materials mildew if left damp."
Rain Umbrella
"By the mid-18th century, the rain umbrella moved towards an everyday item among women, but it was not until the Englishman Jonas Hanway fashioned and carried a rain umbrella on the streets of London in 1750 did men begin to take notice. Although ridiculed at first, Hanway carried a rain umbrella everywhere he went, and by the late 1700’s, the rain umbrella became a common accessory among both men and women. In fact, in the late-1700’s and early 1800’s, a “Hanway” evolved to become another name for a rain umbrella."
Reticule
"A reticule is a small drawstring bag carried as a purse by a woman in the 18th and early 19th century. It was also used as a synonym for any kind of purse or handbag carried by a woman."
"From the beginning of time women needed a place to put personal things. And whether you call it a chanery, chatelaine, pocket, reticule, handbag or purse it became something a women couldn’t do without. The English called reticules “indispensables.” The French called them “ridicules” and mocked women who carried them. An interesting thing is how very small they were in the beginning in the 1700’s. That was because way back then women rarely carried anything. If she went shopping a maid accompanied her and paid for all the purchases. A woman didn’t talk about money and heaven forbid she certainly didn’t HANDLE it. (Of course, this applies to those women wealthy enough to afford a maid. -sandy) So, visiting cards, a handkerchief, small bottle of perfume, or the ever-present smelling salts (because you never knew when you were about to keel over) were about all she needed to keep with her. They were made of all sorts of things—silk, velvet, brocade, leather, straw, old doilies, handkerchiefs. You name it and it could be made into a reticule. And then there were the knitted and crocheted ones. Some had adornment and some were plain Jane."
As is the case with anything, the wealth of the woman determined what she could and could not afford to own or the quality of what she owned. If the women of the 18th century were anything like the women of today, I'm sure they found ways to make or find dupes and knock-offs, of at least some of these things. For example here are a couple of handmade chatelaines:
I sort of like the idea of a chatelaine. As I was looking for pictures, I found patterns for making modern day chatelains, mostly used for sewing. I may make me one...
Having things isn't wrong, God blesses us with so much. It's when our hearts worship the things instead of the Creator that we have made those things our treasure (idol) instead of God. Make the Lord God your treasure and you will always be rich.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Come back next week to learn about the last three accessories on my list. Have you been enjoying this one so far? I know I have. 😀
I hope the rest of your week is great! May the Lord God bless you and your family with faith, hope and love in Jesus' Name.
In Christ,
Sandy
I am fascinated by the chatelaines especially the ones with the sewing accessories. The reticule are interesting too.
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