<I>Bouquet holder, cherries and blossoms motif</I>

ca.1830-1920

Shiny white metal (possibly nickel silver?)-plated copper bouquet holder with botanical forms and loop handle. The vase is comprised of the overlapping cherries, blossoms, and leaves of a cherry tree stamped in three repeats. Connecting to a trunk near the bottom of the vase are two short lengths of round-link chains. The first chain connects a floral pin that would be inserted through the vase to pierce the stems of a bouquet in order to secure them inside the holder. The second chain attaches a smooth wire ring 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. The handle of the holder was stamped with two repeats with floral decoration. The bottom of the handle loops up creating a ring at the end of the handle.