Gold plated clip and chain???

[asmerri]

Hello Everyone,

I found this today about 5" down at a 1920's homesite. It's about 3" in length, ornate and appears to be gold plated. Solid gold continues to elude me!! Either way, I think this is a cool find. Can anyone tell me what this is and a possible age?

Thanks in advance
!

 

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[doublet2a]

Could be a watch chain??

Tim

 

[nhbenz]

It's a lady's chatelaine clip. This google search shows one like yours, as well as the various configurations in which they were used. victorian gold plated chatelaine clip - Google Search
-which include suspending a watch, pen, and much more... Anything that would now be stuck in a purse.

 

[cooper1841]

I found one identical to yours, only 6" long,................... pocket watch chain. Nice find

 

[asmerri]

It's a chatelaine clip. This google search shows one like yours, as well as the various configurations in which they were used. victorian gold plated chatelaine clip - Google Search

Very cool! Is that just a decorative piece that would have been attached to a piece of jewelry or is what I found a complete piece? I have never heard of one before. Thanks for the ID!

 

[nhbenz]

Very cool! Is that just a decorative piece that would have been attached to a piece of jewelry or is what I found a complete piece? I have never heard of one before. Thanks for the ID!

It could be considered a simple complete piece I guess. Now you have to find a pen, thimble, scissors, watch, pouch or some other small trinket to hang from it and clip it to your belt. More commonly though, rather than having a single chain attached, there would be a loop attached from which you could then hang multiple chains, as the one here is set up to do: Antique Decorated Gold Plated Chatelaine Holder Clip | eBay
These were most popular in the US in the latter half of the 1800's.