Antique Sterling Vermeil Decorative Chatelaine Top Safety Pin to Secure on Belt

Description

This unusual pin is in a half oval shape with a decorative half moon of beads and twining foliage on a textured background.  A flared strip strip of metal is attached to the back forming a sort of hook. On the back of the strip, upside-down just above the beading is stamped "Sterling".  Vermeil, a light gold wash, has been applied to the silver. At the top of the strip is a hollow tube which one side of a safety pin has been passed through. The oval shape is actually the top of a chatelaine.  Victorian and Edwardian ladies had chatelaines pinned at their waists or hooked over their belts. Suspended from a central clip or pin like this one were little household tools such as a thimble, scissors, needle case, crochet hook, notebook and pen, or stamp holder. The safety pin in this example provides extra security - it could be pinned to the back of the belt or the skirt behind it. In a example that I saw like this, the items hung from small chains which were wrapped around the metal strip on the back. This is a small top. It measures just 7/8 inch across and 5/8 inch from the bottom to the center bead. The distance from the bottom to the top of the safety pin is just under 1 1/4 inches. Good condition except for a tiny scratch near the bottom. See my other listings for 3 other chatelaine top in different sizes and designs.