Hand bouquet holders, also known an posy holders or bouquetièrs, were popular costume accessories carried in the mid to late 1800s.

Varying widely in design and cost, they ranged from being inexpensively mass-produced out of imitation materials to specially commissioned pieces crafted out of precious metals. They were available to everyone, even those with modest incomes.

Many holders have a pin to hold the bouquet securely and a ring on a chain to place on the wearer's finger. These made it possible for a lady to release the holder from her hand when dancing with a partner.

Illustration of two posy holders, originally from Harper's Bazaar, Oct. 8, 1892. Reprinted in Stella Blum, ed. Victorian Fashions and Costume from Harper's Bazaar (1867-1898),NYC: Dover Pub. Inc., 1974.

The small bouquet or "posy" was arranged in the holder in moist sphagnum moss and always contained at least one fragrant flower. The bouquet was also called a "nosegay," a term derived from being carried to ward off unpleasant street odors. Sometimes the bouquet held a message expressed in the "language of flowers," which could be interpreted by finding the special meanings assigned to popular flowers of the period in floral dictionaries or lexicons.

The metal and ceramic posyholder is filled with red, purple and pink dried flowers. The ceramic handle is adorned with pictures of flowers.

This has a jewel-encrusted neck, ornate metal filigree, a curved base, bulbous metal tip, and a ring. It is filled with a rose amidst small purple flowers.

This posy holder has a straight base made of carved bone and a fluted crown. It is filled with white roses and other small white flowers.

The posy holder on the left has a fluted silver crown and an intricately carved ivory handle. On the right is a silver horn-shaped posy holder with a woven basket crown.

This holder has a gold semi-circular basket and a carved bone handle with a ring. Behind the crown, bone fan-shaped dance cards are displayed. Photo by Jeff Ploskonka.

Green and gold horizontal strips adorn the top, middle, and bottom of the crown. A gold filigree angel is perched on the neck. The handle is of white ceramic.

These bouquet holders are examples from the Frances Jones Poetker Collection that were donated, given to the Smithsonian by Frances Jones Poetker of Cincinnati, Ohio, a noted floral designer, author, and lecturer on floricultural history.

An exhibition of posy holders is currently featured in the Smithsonian Institution's International Gallery.

The language of flowers

Women of all ages received carefully chosen bouquets for their posy holders as gifts. The symbolic meanings of flowers dictated the make-up of these bouquets. Spring flowers, such as daisies, forget-me-nots, and violets, were proper for young girls. Foliage and berries were the choice for elderly relatives. Michaelmas daisies and marigolds signified farewell and so were suitable for funerals. A gift of roses meant a declaration of love, while ivy offered only friendship.