Before women carried purses, they often relied on chatelaines to keep an array of miniature accessories close at hand. Named after “La Chatelaine,” or the female head of a French household who was responsible for an estate’s keys, chatelaines became a practical accessory for women at a time when pockets were tiny or nonexistent. During the 16th century, it was common to hang such tools near the waist with a cord or ribbon, but in the 18th...Continue Reading