Tibetan Chatelaine with Grooming Kit

Tibetan Chatelaine with a central filigree pendant and dangles made up of a small brush, tweezers, ear scoop, nail cleaner (the curved implement) and a toothpick (straight implement). This was used by the Lepcha people from the Tibetan border region from the 1940s or 50s. 

The metal does not test as silver, but the the turquoise is real. There are three on the front and three on the identical back. There chatelaine ends in a single turquoise on top The chain was added later so that it could be worn as a necklace. In good vintage condition, but the brush has lost many bristles.

This type of ornament was usually worn on the shoulder suspended from a loop. You can see examples here of early 20th century photos of Tibetan women wearing similar chatelaines.

You can see a similar example in the Pitt Rivers Museum collection: http://objects.prm.ox.ac.uk/pages/PRMUID31443.html

• Length is 22 cm (8 1/2").
• Width is 6 cm (2 1/2").
• The chain is 50 cm (20") long.
• The weight is 50.4 grams.