This document discusses the history and use of posy holders, also known as tussie mussies. Posy holders were small containers used to carry bouquets of flowers or herbs that were a popular fashion accessory for women from the 16th through 19th centuries. They came in various decorative designs and materials like silver, ivory, and mother-of-pearl. Posy holders allowed women to send symbolic messages through the flowers they carried and were an important part of dress and etiquette at social events during the Victorian era.

1. By: Rodica St ătescu Source: INTERNET Automatic transition Music: Andre Rieu Port Bouquet A Forgotten Accessory

2. POSY HOLDER TUSSIE MUSSIE silver posy holder (silver tussie mussie) is a type of funnel-shaped container for holding a posy (a flowerv or a nosegay), basically intended to be worn attached to a dress. The handle may be of ivory, amber, porcelain, mother-of-pearl. The posy is secured by a pin across the mouth of the funnel and the holder is attached to the dress by a pin or hook. Some examples have, attached by a chain, a finger-ring for use when held by hand and some are made as a brooch. In earlier times before sanitation and concerns with personal hygiene, the nosegays were carried to superstitiously ward off disease or to camouflage the unpleasant smells of the street. Later in the 19th and early 20th centuries they were romanticized as a fashion accessory for young ladies to hold the flowers brought by courting 'gentleman callers'.

4. Le porte-bouquet est un accessoire de mode qui fut couramment employé, depuis le XVIe siècle et tout au long du XIXe siècle. Accessoire de parure, il évolua avec les modes vestimentaires. Leur forme est le plus souvent délicate et leur matière peut être composée de nacre, d'ivoire, d'écaille, d'opaline, d'argent ou d'or, de perles et de corail et pierres précieuses. Apparu au XVI siècle car l'usage des soirées mondaines voulait que les femmes tiennent à la fois un bouquet de fleurs, un éventail, un carnet de bal et un mouchoir, le tout d'une seule main, l'autre étant consacrée à leur cavalier. Le porte-bouquet fut originellement un objet utilitaire, constitué d'une petit vase prolongé par un manche, parfois tenu par la main de la dame grâce à une chaînette et à un anneau passé à un doigt. Aussi, pour cause de praticabilité, certains porte-bouquet, pouvait être associé à un petit miroir, à un carnet de bal, à un flacon de parfum, à un éventail.

5. To show her acceptance of him, she skewered the flowers into the posy holder with a long pin and wore the holder to a ball. Attached to her hand by a chain and a ring, it swung free while they danced.

6. In America this small container used to carry nosegays of sweet smelling flowers or herbs is called 'tussie mussie'. The name 'tussie' originates from an old English word for a nosegay. The second part refers to the wet moss used to keep the flowers moist.

7. A common posy holder had a repousse receptacle with fruits, flowers, beads and leaves

8. They were fixed into a metal or carved mother of pearl handle Other posy holders had the shape of a mesh basket with oak leaves,

9. or a cornet shape highly embossed with open work and elaborated designs with leaves and a medallion on the side

14. This object is an ornate posy holder. A posy was a small bouquet of flowers that was also sometimes called a “tussy mussy”. They were once very fashionable, particularly during the Victorian era when carrying flowers was considered to be more acceptable for young women than wearing jewellery. Affluent Victorian women were encouraged to learn the “language” of flowers, a code in which each type of flower was given a different symbolic meaning. In this way a bouquet of flowers could convey a message. For example, a red rose indicated love, whilst a yellow rose meant friendship and lavender represented devotion. The tussy mussy was therefore a very important part of a woman’s wardrobe. Women would attend social events carrying a carefully arranged bouquet in an ornate holder, and in this way they could convey their intentions. Posy holders were often very decorative, and came in a variety of different styles. Some were worn in the hair whilst others were worn at the waist or pushed into the low neckline of a dress - known as a “bosom bottle”.

15. Also known as a Posey Holder this Victorian bridal accessory will not only hold your bouquet, but can become a family heirloom. Has carved cameo on one side and a mirror on the opposite side. Handle is carved mother of pearl. Circa 1880.

31. Victorian silver wedding posy holder with its original box Rodica