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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.
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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'.
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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.
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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.
 
A common posy holder had a repousse receptacle with fruits,
flowers, beads and leaves |
 
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, |
  
or a cornet shape highly embossed with open work and elaborated
designs with leaves and a medallion on the side |
Posy holders had also the shape of a brooch for lady's suits
sometimes of unusual shape such as shoes and horns
 
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