gothiccharmschool:nourgelitnius:bead-bead:design-is-fine:William B. Kerr & Co, Octopus chatelain
gothiccharmschool:nourgelitnius:bead-bead:design-is-fine:William B. Kerr & Co, Octopus chatelaine, 1900. Sterling silver. Newark, New Jersey. Via flysfo I neeeed to know what all those things are. Smelling salts? Rectangle thing, purse…pen? Watch. Yes? The rectangle is probably a notepad, and judging by the rivet instead of a seam or a binding of any kind, is was most likely made out of ivory. If it is made of ivory or some other wipeable surface, then the pen is most likely a small graphite pencil.Ivory notepads were abundant through the 18th and 19th century and obviously declined with the advancements in paper production. They allowed for a reusable surface for writing when you weren’t able to carry a small notebook to take notes, like if you were taking care of a large house and staff and needed your hands for work instead of carrying a notebook or if you were out and about town without a satchel to hold your items. Notepads like these are still sold today by stores catering to reenactors of the American Revolution, using salvaged ivory piano keys instead of opting for illegal ivory.Here is a set that was owned by Benjamin FranklinA set with days of the week engraved on them for even easier note taking.And a reproduction made with piano keys by and including a metal encased stick of graphite attached for ease of use, made by the Goose Bay Workshop.THERE ARE REPRODUCTIONS OF THESE?! Hello item that is immediately going on a wishlist. -- source link
#chatelaine#accessories#jewelry#19th century#20th century#1900's#notepads