<I>Bouquet holder, scroll motif</I>

ca. 1830-1920

Silver-plated brass holder with looped handle. The pierced, openwork design of the vase is comprised of three repeats of an ornate scrolling pattern, which creates a crown-like lip around the opening. Near the top of the vase is a hole for the floral pin. The pin would be inserted through the vase to pierce the stems of a bouquet in order to secure them inside the holder. The neck, which connects the vase to the handle is spherical with four repeats of figure-8 form. The looped, or rat-tail, handle is made from a single sheet stamped with a scaly pattern produced by seven encircled dots. The handle terminates with a tiny stamped flower. There is also a ring near the bottom that attaches to the floral pin and a ring. The ring would allow the bouquet holder to be worn from the finger or on a chatelaine in order to free the lady's hands while dancing. A wire-loop clip on the back of the bouquet holder also allowed it to be worn attached to the clothing.