Chatelaine Hook and Chain
1870–74
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Hook H: H.: 5.7 cm (2 1/4 in.); Chain: 9.5 × 40.7 cm (3 3/4 × 16 in.)
Classification
costume accessory worn at waist or below
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
90599
Art Historical Context
Step into the elegant world of Victorian accessories with the *Chatelaine Hook and Chain* crafted by Tiffany and Company between 1870 and 1874. This exquisite silver piece, now housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of the Americas department, consists of a hook measuring 5.7 cm high and a slender chain spanning 40.7 cm long. Worn at the waist or below, it served as both a functional and fashionable adornment for women of the era. Chatelaines originated in medieval times as keychains for castle mistresses but evolved in the 19th century into ornate symbols of domestic authority and sty...