What are these things?

[CYoungJSU]

I have attached links to two images of my cousin, Henry Clay, that have peaked my interest. I have noticed that he has some sort of light or metallic cordage around his neck in these daguerreotypes. It appears the cord ends around his vest pocket. Are his spectacles attached to this cord or something else? In Robert Remini's book on Clay, he states that Clay liked to use props such as his snuff box, handkerchief, and spectacles during his congressional speeches and debates. I have also seen these types of cords worn around the necks of other individuals during the mid 1800s. What is their usage?

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/I?fsaall,app,brum,detr,swann,look,gottscho,pan,horyd,genthe,var,cai,cd,hh,yan,bbcards,lomax,ils,prok,brhc,nclc,matpc,iucpub,tgmi,lamb:70:./temp/~pp_QemC::displayType=1:m856sd=cph:m856sf=3c09953:@@@mdb=fsaall,app,brum,detr,swann,look,gottscho,pan,horyd,genthe,var,cai,cd,hh,yan,bbcards,lomax,ils,prok,brhc,nclc,matpc,iucpub,tgmi,lamb

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/I?ils:99:./temp/~pp_QemC::displayType=1:m856sd=cph:m856sf=3c10181:@@@mdb=fsaall,app,brum,detr,swann,look,gottscho,pan,horyd,genthe,var,cai,cd,hh,yan,bbcards,lomax,ils,prok,brhc,nclc,matpc,iucpub,tgmi,lamb

Thanks for your help,

Chris

[Justin Runyon]

Re: What are these things?

During Clays time, it was not at all uncommon to wear ones watch on a "ribbon fob" around the neck. Depending on what the ribbon was made of, that could be what your looking for.

I'm not sure if a lengthy chain was ever used in the same manner. Something tells me Hank would no more.

[paulcalloway]

Re: What are these things?

During Clays time, it was not at all uncommon to wear ones watch on a "ribbon fob" around the neck. Depending on what the ribbon was made of, that could be what your looking for.

I'm not sure if a lengthy chain was ever used in the same manner. Something tells me Hank would no more.

I think what you're seeing there is a so-called "Albert Chain". A watch chain that would often hang around the neck, made popular by Prince Albert of England.

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: What are these things?

I have seen these ribbons on lorgnettes and monocles.

[CYoungJSU]

Re: What are these things?

Thank you all for the replys. I had actually kicked around the possible idea of a watch fob but had never seen one around the neck. Allyn Cox painted a portrait of Clay that hangs in the U.S. Capitol that shows a black cord around his neck. I have also noticed a painting at Ashland (Clay's Lexington estate) that shows him wearing a similar black cord around his neck. The two Clay statues I have observed in Richmond and in the statuary hall in D.C. shows him wearing a fob in what seems to be a pocket in the front of his fall front trousers.

http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/...g_32_00007.htm

Thank you all again,

Chris