Illustration depicting aParisian lady's maid in the 1630s. The illustration is made in the turn of the 18th-19th century, byGeorges-Jacques Gatine [fr] (1773–1848)Mistress and Maid byJohannes Vermeer.
Alady's maid is a female personal attendant who waits on her female employer. The role of a lady's maid is similar to that of a gentleman'svalet.[1]
Traditionally, the lady's maid was not as high-ranking as alady's companion, who was aretainer rather than aservant, but the rewards included room and board, travel and somewhat improved social status. In the servants' hall, a lady's maid tookprecedence akin to that of her mistress. In Britain, a lady's maid would be addressed by hersurname by her employer, while she was addressed as "Miss" by junior servants or when visiting anotherservants' hall.
A lady's maid's specific duties included helping her mistress with her appearance, including make-up, hairdressing, clothing,jewellery, and shoes. A lady's maid would also remove stains from clothing; sew, mend, and alter garments as needed; bring her mistress breakfast in her room; and draw her mistress's bath. However, she would not be expected to dust and clean every small item, as that would be the job of ahousemaid.[2]
