Chatelaine Necklace

Description

If you're a fan of Victorian/Edwardian chatelaines, you'll love this homage necklace perfect for fans of Gothic, Steampunk and Neo-Victorian fashion.

A Chatelaine was a decorative yet practical hanging assemblage of items necessary for a lady in an era of no pockets and tiny handbags. Her scissors, a tiny pencil, keys - each suspended by chains, rattling musically as she went about her business, hanging from a belt at her waist.

Today we have no need for anything so quaint, but I love the look of them and made one that I hope evokes that period costume accessory and substituted lightweight shiny danglies in place of useful tools.

A lovely bejeweled vintage bar pin that once had a broken clasp is given new life as the mainstay of this evocative piece. Brass charms, dyed freshwater pearls, a gold aurum glass bead and a coppery oval locket are suspended from this ornate pink-gold-plated bar.

The locket actually opens – you can keep a picture or tiny memento inside. The clear window in the locket is not glass, so it's very lightweight yet sturdy.

The pin back has been removed and sanded smooth and a pretty, delicate 23” copper-colored brass chain closes with a copper lobster clasp. The pendant section measures an additional 4” long.

All OvertheTop jewelry is shipped via USPS well-cushioned in a gift box inside a bubble mailer. Insurance is included in the domestic price.

Overseas customers, I am happy to sell to you and accept Paypal only for these transactions.

© OvertheTop, 2008

Added on Nov 02, 2009