<I>Bouquet holder, female figure with tobacco leaf pattern</I>

ca. 1830-1920

Stamped silver holder formed of four identical female figures and tobacco leaf repeats. Each is dressed in a headdress, necklace, and flowing skirt with boots, and are likely meant to depict the stylized ideal of the "Indian maidens" of the Americas held by Europeans. A hole through one of the figure's chest is for the insertion of pin through the stems of the bouquet to keep it secured in the holder, however the pin is missing. The 'C'-shaped handle has four leaves at the top (alternately textured and polished) made from two stamped repeats. Below there is a ring soldered to the side of a leaf, onto which a fragment of tiny round-link chain is looped for a finger ring that would allow the bouquet holder to be worn from the finger or on a chatelaine to free the lady's hands while dancing. The ring is also missing.