<I>Bouquet holder, wire and filigree</I>

ca. 1830-1920

Silver filigree vase and handle. The vase of the bouquet holder is made of silver filigree wires interlaced in a basket weave pattern. This creates a tulip shape for the vase. The rim of the vase is jagged with pointed arches where the wires reach the top and twist down into the weave again. There are two round openings that are surrounded in a flower-like frame where a pin would have been inserted. The pin would have secured the flowers from falling out of the holder. The pin would have been attached to the holder by a short length of chain, however these are missing. The three-part spindle handle of the bouquet holder is a straight and made by relatively thick wires atop a fine filigree network with a tube support underneath. Beadwork encircles different levels of the handle, which are elaborately ornamented with scrolling over an intricately textured surface. The upper register and bottom of the handle are encircled with applied flowers formed with a central bead surrounded by two circles of petals. It is missing the bottom, to which a chain for a finger ring would have been attached. This feature would allow the bouquet holder to be worn from the finger or on a chatelaine to free the lady's hands while dancing.