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

ca.1830-1920

Silver bouquet holder with funnel-shaped vase and straight handle. The vase is composed of six stamped leaves with raised veins on a textured surface. Near the top, two holes opposite one another are present for 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. Four stamped acanthus leaves form the base of the vase and meet the polished sphere neck, which connects the vase to the handle. The cylindrical handle is long and straight with an engraved, textured leaf entwined around the shaft that extends to the bottom of the vase. It terminates with a cap formed by six petals. A curb chain attaches a double-rimmed ring to the end of the holder that 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.