<I>Bouquet holder, jeweled feather</I>

ca.1830-1920

Vase of gilded silver engraved and enameled with ivory handle. The cone-shaped vase of the bouquet is petit with three wisps extending upward creating a feather shape. The silver bowl is ornamented with engraved foliate motifs and white, black, and dark blue enameling. The top of the bowl is studded with four red paste-glass and eight turquois bezel-set paste-glass gems surrounded by embossed silver arabesques. Three plumes of graduating lengths extend from the lip of the vase and flourish across the front in a side-swept curve. Each has scrolling botanical surface decoration that is inlaid with five turquoise and eight red paste-glass bezel-set gems alternating in color. The straight handle is made of carved ivory with a leaf-like motif that spirals up its length.