parlor maids
Drawing room attendants
Parlor maids were domestic servants responsible for maintaining the parlor and other reception rooms in wealthy households.
They answered doors, served tea, and attended to guests.
The role was common in Victorian and Edwardian England but largely disappeared as domestic service declined in the twentieth century: The parlor maid announced that dinner was served.
- servantsHired household workers
- apronsTorso coverings for work
- white glovesPale formal handwear
- dustingRemoving surface grime
- silverLustrous white precious metal
drawing room · Victorian · uniforms · black dress · morning dress · caps · butlers · feather dusters · upstairs · downstairs · polishing · curtsy · mistress · domestics · domestic service · below stairs · mantelpiece · lace
parlor maidsscullery maids
Servants washing dishes, pots
scullions · charwomen · laundresses · washerwomen · housekeepers
parlor maidslady of the house
Female head of household
employers · masters · householders · gentry · aristocrats
parlor, maid, parlors, maids, parley, parliament, parliamentary, parliamentarian, maiden