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Victorian Tussie-Mussie Sterling Poesy Holder, C1860
About the Item
This a rare poesy holder, of sterling silver with an intricate cased foliate design and long pin and ring attached. Known also as Tussie-Mussies, the posy holder was a lady's fashion accessory resembling a small vase and meant to to hold the bouquet of flowers brought by a courting 'gentleman caller'. To show her acceptance of him, the lady would secure the flowers into the posy holder with the attached long pin and wear the holder to a ball. It attached to her hand by means of a chain to which was attached a thin ring at the end. She would swing the poesy as they danced.
The poesy holder was based on the Victorian custom of assigning meanings to the flowers exchanged between lovers, one of Victoria's favorite pastimes. The porsy holder personified the Victorian ideals of elegance and discretion and were worn as fahion accessories until the second decade of the 20th century.
According to Eileen Deitch, author of a book on Tussie-mussies as well as a collector, “a ‘tussie’ is a nosegay, which is a Middle English word for a small group of flowers held together in a little bouquet. 'Mussie’ refers to the moss that was moistened and put around the stems of the flowers to keep them from wilting.
- Metal:
- Dimensions:Height: 5.25 in (133.35 mm)Width: 1.5 in (38.1 mm)
- Style:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1860
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Baltimore, MD
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU25112283732
About the Seller
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- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Baltimore, MD
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
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