Processing time
1-2 business days
Customs and import taxes
Buyers are responsible for any customs and import taxes that may apply. I'm not responsible for delays due to customs.
$129.17
Exquisite 10 karat yellow gold Fleur de Lis brooch with a hook that could suspend a watch or chain or be used as a chatelaine. The pin measures approximately 26.23 millimeters (1.033 inches) long by approximately 18.34 millimeters (0.722 inches) wide, and weighs approximately 3.01 grams. It is signed, but unmarked as to gold content. It tests positive on a Tri Electronics G24 gold tester as 10 karat gold. Excellent antique condition from the estate of Lynn Fisher of Raleigh, North Carolina.
Eugenia Lynn Ligon Fisher was born January 7, 1939, the daughter of Ollie and James Harris Ligon of Wilmington, NC. She grew up in Wilmington and attended New Hanover High School. She graduated from Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC. For many years she lived in Wilson, NC as well as Raleigh. Lynn passed away on Friday, May 25, 2018.
A chatelaine is a decorative belt hook or clasp worn at the waist with a series of chains suspended from it. Each chain is mounted with useful household items such as scissors, thimbles, watches, keys, and household seals. Chateleine bags refer to bags suspended from a waistband by cord or chain, which were popular from the 1860s to the end of the 19th century.
Chatelaines were worn by many housekeepers in the 19th century, and they were typically used as watch chains for the most wealthy. The name chatelaine derives from the French term châtelaine. The chatelaine was also used as a woman's keychain in the 19th century to show the status of women in a household. The woman with the keys to all the many desks, chest of drawers, food hampers, pantries, storage containers, and many other locked cabinets was "the woman of the household". As such, she was the one who would direct the servants, housemaids, cooks and delivery servicemen and would open or lock the access to the valuables of the house, possessing total authority over who had access to what. Frequently, this hostess was the senior woman of the house. When a woman married and moved into her father-in-law's house, her husband's mother would usually hold on to the keys. However, if the mother became a widow, the keys and their responsibilities and status were often passed to the oldest son's wife. Younger women and daughters in the house often wanted the appearance of this responsibility, and would often wear decorative chatelaines with a variety of small objects in the place of keys, especially bright and glittering objects that could be used to start a conversation. In the case of the absence of a woman of the house, the controller of the keys was often a hired housekeeper.
We are listing several pieces of estate jewelry, along with other items fresh from fine North Carolina estates. We are happy to combine shipping.
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1-2 business days
Buyers are responsible for any customs and import taxes that may apply. I'm not responsible for delays due to customs.
Just contact me within: 14 days of delivery
Ship items back to me within: 30 days of delivery
But please contact me if you have any problems with your order.
Because of the nature of these items, unless they arrive damaged or defective, I can't accept returns for:
Buyers are responsible for return shipping costs. If the item is not returned in its original condition, the buyer is responsible for any loss in value.
You will receive exactly the item pictured, minus any display props, measuring tools (such as rulers and scales), measurement comparison items (such as coins), and anything explicitly excluded in the text. Photos are likely not actual size; please see item description for dimensions. If there is a defect not discernible in the pictures, it will be included in the text. If there is a concern or doubt, please ask prior to purchase. Remember that color is a very tricky thing to transmit electronically. There are many variables, including lighting, background, physical filters, digital filters, the capabilities of the monitor on which the image is displayed, and the color perception of the viewer.
We purchase our items primarily at auctions and estate sales.
We purchase from reputable auction houses and dealers, and we test all gems and precious metals. While we are not experts, we try to list each item in as much detail as possible. We cannot describe every tiny nuance; therefore, please use the zoom feature and consider each picture carefully.
All of our jewelry items arrive in a gift box. If you would like a more impressive gift box, we have some available for purchase. If you would like non-jewelry items gift-wrapped, you can purchase gift-wrapping at checkout.
I ship all items the next business day after I receive them. First Class mail generally takes 3-5 business days in the U.S. Priority Mail takes 1-3 days in the U.S. However, please note that it took the US Postal Service 21 days to deliver one First Class package to California. Shipping to other countries can take 2-6 weeks via First Class International. If you need something for a specific date, consider using Priority Mail or Priority Mail Express.
Generally, no. I'm a one-woman operation and I don't have any live models available. I take great effort to photograph items on measuring devices such as ring mandrels, rulers in millimeters and inches, and scales. I also offer returns, so that if your item is not exactly what you want, you are welcome to return it for a refund.
I offer layaway for items over $300. You may make up to 3 monthly payments for a handling fee of $5. A 10% cancellation fee will be charged if you cancel the order. No discounts apply.