<I>Bouquet holder, bangles, tripod</I>

ca.1830-1920

Gilded-brass bouquet holder with tripod base. The vase is formed from two repeats featuring a column topped by a floral bouquet with flanking winged female figures. Each woman has flowing hair, bare breast, a skirt formed of leaf-like plumes, and holds an urn containing flowers. This design is obscured by applied dangles around the lip of the vase. At the base of the vase a short length of chain connects to a floral pin. The pin would be inserted through the vase to pierce the stems of a bouquet in order to secure the flowers inside the holder. The handle of the bouquet holder also serves as a tripod stand. This would allow the bouquet holder to act as a free-standing table or mantle ornament. Three curved panels spring out, each with stamped decoration (one of the legs is no longer present). The when the legs were secured together, they acted as a straight, stem handle for the bouquet holder.