Châtelaines and chatelaines

Read on and you'll see the method behind the madness of the meaning of the title. Huh?😒

While watching Outlander season 2 last year I was intrigued by the chains that Claire had wound around her torso. If you really know me you also know that I love chains, fringe and other kinda edgy accoutrements. So ...  a visit to Terry Dresbach's blog (the costume designer) gave me the insight I was looking for.
These are called chatelaines, what women wore between the 16th-19th centuries to hold a few necessities such as scissors, perfume and what they called vinaigrette, magnifying glass, a small coin purse, and more.

Close-up of Claire's chatelaine (equipage in 18th c)

I was a little confused because 'Une Châtelaine' as I know it in French is the female owner (or dweller) of a castle. The châtelaine would carry essential keys around on separate chains... et voila! the connection.

,A second definition by Merriam-Webster is "In the 18th century, the word chatelaine (borrowed from the French châtelaine) took on an additional  meaning in English that alluded to this: the word came to be used for a decorative clasp or hook from which chains holding a watch, purse, keys, etc. were suspended."

Also, while gathering some pix and doing a little reading on these (see below reference), I discovered that they were called "équipages" up until the early 19th century.

In this article, https://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/the-killer-mobile-device-for-victorian-women/ , collector Genevieve Cummins, co-author of the book Chatelaines: Utility to Glorious Extravagance, about the forgotten history of chatelaines, goes into more detail:
"Gowns of the era did not have large or convenient pockets and women did not have large handbags, only little bags or reticules. It was therefore necessary to carry any items that were needed for a specific pursuit. There were even chatelaines for nursing, sporting, painting, or dolls. There were two styles. The majority have a medallion at the top, and then behind that is a metal tongue that hooks over the waistband. The other style, which is more typically American, has a very long brooch pin at the back."

Though in the Outlander books, Claire had sewn hidden pockets into her gowns. And in dressmaking books about that time period I have seen tie-on pockets used under gowns.

Well, whatever the correct time reference for word usage, I almost long for the simplicity of 'chatelaine jewelry', which is a sharp contrast to the opulent and beautiful gowns some women wore then. I recommend reading both articles mentioned above if you're interested in period fashion.

 Here are a couple that I find particularly beautiful, out of the hundreds of images online.

And this article about the chatelaine purse:   http://blog.fidmmuseum.org/museum/2010/05/chatelaine-purse.html

Which brings me to the point of this post, which is that as one idea morphs into 10 more, I must  fabricate some of my own interpretations of a chatelaine. And then, and then ... boot chains, body chains, leg chains, hip chains .... any other ideas out there? Or special requests?
A.

Antique Brooch

Joseff of Hollywood Vintage Brooch