<I>Bouquet holder, porcelain vase, mother of pearl handle</I>

ca.1830-1920

Porcelain and gilded metal bouquet holder with mother of pearl handle. The funnel-shaped vase is composed of porcelain with enamel decoration in bands. The design, which recalls the French porcelain designs produced in the eighteenth century, alternates between black with green and white with floral friezes with a ring of silver beading between each layer. The neck, which connects the vase to the handle, is composed of gilded metal with applied leaves. A short length of chain connects a floral pin to the lower neck. 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 spindle handle is made from turned mother of pearl. 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. A second length of broken chain, which would have connected to a ring, is attached to loop around the tip of the handle. The ring 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.