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

ca.1830-1920

Silver bouquet holder with feathers and straight handle. The vase is hand-engraved and machine cut. It is formed by six feathers with a pebbled texture. On the lower half of opposite faces of two feathers are holes for a floral pin. The pin would have been inserted through the vase to pierce the stems of a bouquet in order to secure the flowers inside the holder. The base of the vase is formed by six feathers bent into a spherical shape. The handle is long and straight with an engraved, textured leaf entwined around the shaft. 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.