<I>Bouquet holder, birds and leaves motif</I>

ca.1830-1920

Copper bouquet holder with looped handle. The vase of the bouquet holder was stamped with four repeats of a design featuring birds, leaves, and flowers above a repeating pattern of ‘S’-shapes. Between one of the birds and a hanging bud is a hole for a 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 pin is attached to a short length of round-link chain which connects it to a ring near the top of the handle. The handle of the bouquet holder was stamped in two parts and follows the curvaceous foliate forms that are seen in the vase. It curves up to create a loop with three notches that mimic leaves on a vine.