<I>Bouquet holder, women and shields, spade handle</I>

ca.1830-1920

Silver bouquet holder with spade handle. The vase is formed from two repeats featuring a column topped by a floral bouquet with flanking winged female figures. Each woman has flowing hair, bare breast, a skirt formed of leaf-like plumes, and holds an urn containing flowers. At the base of the vase a short length of chain connects to a floral pin. The pin would be inserted through the vase to pierce the stems of a bouquet in order to secure the flowers inside the holder. A second chain connects to a finger ring. The ring would allow the bouquet holder to be worn from the finger or on a chatelaine at the waist to free the lady's hands while dancing. The neck, which connects the vase to the handle, is form from acanthus leaves which splay outward. The handle is in a Gothic Revival trefoil shape that incorporates acanthus leaves on the inner and outer surfaces.