<I>Bouquet holder, beads, mother of pearl handle</I>

ca.1830-1920

Gilded brass vase with silver beads and mother of pearl handle. The vase of the holder is elaborately designed with open metalwork in five eighteenth-century style repeats. Small cartouches are combined with ‘S' and ‘C' scrolls to create the sides of the vase. Within each section is a curving band of seven silver beads strung vertically on convex wires. The base of the vase is formed by five ornate, textured acanthus leaves atop a crown like ring. This design is typical of the Rococo Revival style popular in the nineteenth century. Snake chains attach a floral pin and ring to the bottom of the bowl. The pin is meant to be inserted through the vase, piercing the stems to secure a posy in the holder. The ring connected to the other chain would allow the bouquet holder to be worn dangling from the finger or could be attached to a chatelaine worn at the waist to free the lady's hands while dancing. The vase portion of the bouquet holder connects to the handle at a gilded-brass sheet neck band that is embossed with flowers and leaves on a diagonal-line background. The spindle handle is made from a luminescent mother of pearl. It has been turned, creating rings and bands as it tapers to a point. Mother of pearl handles retained a cool feeling longer than some other materials; because of this, they were said to be appropriate for warmer months.