Rare Antique Victorian Nickel Plated Brass Skirt Lifter with Chain & Clip c1870. Here is a great example of a costume accessory from the past, dating from the Victorian era 1860 to 1880. It is an antique skirt lifter also known as a dress lifter, skirt grip, dress suspender, hem-holder, page or porte-jupe, a clever and useful device for lifting the hem of the frocks of that time.
This Victorian nickel plated brass dress accessory has a pleasing simplicity. It has a mechanism and action similar to a pair of scissors with its two pivoted arms ending in leather lined gripping circles, which close.Tight to grip the hem of a dress. You simply push the top hinges together and the clamp opens. It has a spring assisted mechanism that operates smoothly.
This example is embossed with the product information, it reads. The clip is in good condition with the mechanism in good working order and closing tightly and an easy function. There are some minor surface scratches and the patina of age but this great item is offered in good working order.
This skirt lifter retains the original chain with a clip for attaching to your belt. The chain is beautifully ornate, made with multiple textured links forming a stylised rope. The clip that connects the piece to a belt has an elegantly restrained design. The belt clip measures approx.
4.2cm by 2.2cm at the front, the chain measures 83.5cm long, skirt lifter is about 8cm. Long including the bale, by 4.6cm. The length and ornamentation of this set would suggest that this example was designed for sporting activity, more likely for walking in the street, for Sunday best or for a formal event. A rare, hard to find complete skirt lifter, this is genuine Victorian item - great for collectors of vintage clothing and accessories.
In the streets of 19th century England, women had to be creative to avoid ruining their skirts while along or crossing muddy roads. Skirts in this era were incredibly heavy, with many layers often totalling 6kgs or more.
The top layer being made of expensive materials like silks, cottons, and wools, it was important to protect them. This meant using one or both hands to keep the skirts elevated. Baring their ankles was viewed as socially unacceptable, but holding up their skirts left them unable to partake in sports activities like tennis, ice skating, cycling and horse riding. The advent of the skirt lifter in 1846 was met with immediate success. This device usually appeared as a pair of tongs. Made from brass, the skirt lifter has two circular padded grips that hold a chunk of the material of the skirt up. The lifter then connects to a belt at waist level via a chain. The chain can be pulled to lift the skirt higher in the case of passing expansive puddles and other similar dangers. They came in a wide variety designs, patents and mechanisms.The medieval-style chatelaine also became popular towards the end of the 19. Sometimes, skirt lifters were incorporated into these chatelaines for their practicality and popularity. Today, the antique skirt lifter is a novelty item that most laypeople don't immediately understand. Please see pictures for more details.
I will pack and weigh the items together and get the best possible price that I can, sometimes weight or value might dictate that I send multiple parcels to get a better value for you.