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

ca.1830-1920

Fashioned from silver filigree and wirework, the vase of the holder opens in a tulip shape that is formed with interlacing pointed arches. Leaves surround the base of the vase where it meets the handle.Below this foliate border, a short length of chain attaches to a pin. The pin can be inserted through the spaces in the wire. By piercing the stems, this mechanism secured the flowers from falling out of the holder. The spindle handle of the bouquet holder is a straight and elaborately ornamented with scrolling over an intricately textured surface. Each register of the handle is decorated with different floral motifs and trailing vines made by relatively thick wires atop the fine filigree network. The handle is capped with a ball finial to which a second chain for a finger ring is 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.