History
Despite being accessioned as 'hair tidies', these objects are most likely wall or watch pockets. Pocket watches were primarily used in a functional capacity for telling the time however, pocket watches also conveyed social status and wealth. Initially, this was reflected in the cost of pocket watches due to the intricate and small mechanisms within the pocket watch requiring specialist skills. To further express an individual's style and wealth, the watch's accessories could be customised for example the type of chain, the design of the watch and the way the watch is stored. Consequently, watch pockets also served a dual purpose of protecting the pocket watch when not in use and further showing the individual's wealth. Yet, these pockets may have been used instead as wall pockets in which a range of alternative storage products such as matches.
Design
The watch pockets have the same design which uses white and neutral coloured beads to create floral patterns incorporated with pearls. The design is contrasted against a dark blue silk sateen with a loop - possibly used to attach the pocket to a wall.
These objects were audited and researched as part of the NLHF Data Hunters and Story Gatherers project.
