Antique c.1750s French 9 5/8″ Long Châtelaine and Necessaire, Sewing Etui, Silver

The styling and figures are after those of mid-1700s country genre scenes, and a lady’s sewing items would have completed the dangling chains – a thimble case and scissors case, likely. As you can see, it is fitted inside for a variety of necessary tools, none of which remain with it at this time. This beautiful old one has been in my own collection for decades.  I always thought I’d come across more add-ons for it, or perhaps fittings to fill the interior of the ‘necessaire’ or etui. Time for it to be someone else’s project and display piece. Lots of photos show it off very well. The large hook on back is, of course, to anchor it over a lady’s sash or belt. Charming museum pieces, these c.1700s ones. 

Very good to excellent as far as it is, the case and châtelaine are original to one another and are excellent. One can see that the necessaire is, however, missing the small implements that would have been inside, and from which it takes its name: necessities like a small folding knife, a medicine spoon, a thin wafer to write upon and a stylus to do so, plus a bodkin, back end being an ear wax spoon. I don’t think this one had scissors based on the interior fittings. Measurements are noted on the photos, and while I have looked it over quite well, I cannot find typical French sterling silver marks. Sometimes they’re so small, it’s easy to overlook, or to not make them out amid the worked and ornate silver. I feel certain it is, at minimum, .800/1000 silver. Fine crafting on the bale and the anchoring loops, chains.