<I>Bouquet holder, tripod, flower motif</I>

ca.1830-1920

Silver vase with tripod stand. The vase of this bouquet holder is tulip shaped. The panels splay outward and are etched with floral and foliate designs. Above these vignettes, the panels angle vertically ending in jagged edges; there surface is modeled with a curvaceous forms. The panels are joined to a column with pointed arches bordering the top and bottom. It joins the vase to the handle with a smooth band. A chain with a pin attached is connected to the band and is inserted through the vase of the bouquet holder. This feature would secure a posy in the vase. The base of the bouquet holder can either act as a straight handle or tripod stand. The three spring-mechanized legs are tapered. Each leg is etched with arabesques that cover the surface. A cap connected to a chain could be screwed around the legs of the tripod in order to hold them together thus creating a single straight handled bouquet holder.