APPARENTLY NO MAKER'S MARK, AMSTERDAM, FIRST HALF 18TH CENTURY, ALSO STRUCK WITH LATER DUTCH DUTY MARK OF 1807, THE THIMBLE STRUCK WITH LATER DUTCH DUTY MARK OF 1831-1853, REST OF THE IMPLEMENTS UNMARKED

In the 17th and 18th Century both men and women wore belts or girdles to which chains were attached with all sorts of utensils. Women wore their girdles usually underneath their outergarments or aprons. An important item was the chatelaine with sewing gear. Until the end of the 19th Century it formed part of some of the Dutch regional costume. The compilation of the sewing gear could vary considerably, but usually comprised a pair of scissors, a needle case, a container with a thimble, a pin cushion, and a belt-hook. Sometimes additional gadgets were attached, like for example knives, mirrors and signets. Given the measurements of the present chatelaine it was probably made for a doll. For a virtually identical chatelaine made circa 1740 by Pieter Somerwill see: B.W.G. Wttewaal, Nederlands Klein Zilver 1650-1880, Abcoude, p.111, no. 305, illustrated.