Ball Bouquet Holder, Napoleon III Period, Mother-of-pearl Handle, Mirror

Ball bouquet holder. The handle is made of mother-of-pearl. The gilded metal vase is decorated with a mirror and two mother-of-pearl tablets, one of which has a small engraved portrait in its center. Two chains are attached to the vase and the handle, connected to the bouquet-fixing needle and the ring that allowed it to be held on the finger. It measures 5,31 inches long. Circa 1840-1850.
Note on bouquet holders: The use of bouquet holders appeared at the court of Versailles during the reign of Louis XIV and developed throughout the 18th century. Flowers were then worn on clothes and in hair. In order to keep the flowers fresh and scented, bouquet holders took the form of bottles hidden in bodices or worn on clothing. In the 19th century, the custom of carrying flowers led manufacturers to create new types of bouquet holders. The bouquet holder then consists of a vase that extends into a handle on which there is sometimes a chain connected to a ring. The latter is attached to the finger or to a chatelaine and allows the bouquet holder to be held. A system allows the bouquet to be fixed in the "vase", the simplest being that of the fixed bouquet needle. Sources: Catalogue of the "Porte-bouquets" exhibition at the Cognacq-Jay Museum in 2005.