Victorian 1800's Skirt Holder.

An antique novelty skirt holder, or skirt lifter. This little item clamped the fabric of a woman’s skirt between its two padded wheels, (basically a small clamp) which would be attached mid-way up the skirt, and then tied to the waistband. Women wore long skirts then, and this allowed them to keep the hems of the skirts out of the dust or mud. It also was worn when riding one of the newly invented bicycles so that the skirt cleared the wheels. Skirt holders were introduced in 1846, and were very popular. This one is a Fyfe’s Patent Bicycle Holder. To open the clamp, you swing the lever near the back wheel of the penny-farthing up to the top of the curved frame. To clamp, you slid it down to the bottom. This little item has a stamped registration mark, which dates it to circa 1846. Very good condition for an antique item.  Measurements:  7 cm wide with the clamp open, and 5 cm wide with the clamp closed. Height is 5.8cm.

ITEM REF. No:  C17733

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