What Is It? - #60

S

SifuPhil

R.I.P. With Us In Spirit Only
Location
Pennsylvania, USA
Today's WII - the last one of the month! - hails from Victorian times, is silver-plated with several gemstones, and measures approx. 4" long.

mystery antique 64b.jpg

WHAT IS IT?
 

Sounds right, the little handle looks like it might have been something to hold in a lady's hand... and I would have guessed that it held some kind of smelly stuff like petals or perfume... the "ring" might be for securing it to the hand, but I can't figure out the needle, unless it was to pin it to clothing.
I can remember when ladies "fainted" ... at hearing a bad word, or seeing a nasty picture... and they carried some ammonia to use in recovering... but I don't think it was that...
I don't think it was for anything like holy water... or for blessing...
 
I think it is a tussie mussie which is a type of corsage holder. That might not be spelled correctly but should be close.
 
:D I had the word 'nosegay' in my head, but am probably way off base...never heard of a tussie mussie, tho. :confused:
 
About Tussie Mussies... Romance from another day:
According to Geraldine Adamich Laufer in Tussie-Mussies – The Language of Flowers, Lady Montague wrote to a friend: “ ‘I have got for you, as you desire, a Turkish love-letter, which I have put into a little box, and ordered the captain of the Smyrniote to deliver to you with this letter.’” Inside the box were a pearl, cloves (or carnations), a jonquil, paper, a pear and soap. A lump of coal, a rose, a straw mat, cloth, cinnamon, a torch, gold thread, a lock of hair, grapes, silver or gold wire, and peppercorns completed the message. Lady Mary translated it thus: “ ‘You are the fairest of the young. I have long loved you and you have not known it! Have pity on my passion! I faint every hour! Give me some hope. I am sick with love. May I die, and all my years be yours! May you be pleased and your sorrows mine! Suffer me to be your slave. Your price is not to be found, but my fortune is yours. I burn! My flame consumes me! Do not turn away your face. Crown of my head! I die – come quickly. Send me an answer.’
‘You see,’ continued Lady Mary, ‘this letter is all in verses, and I can assure you there is as much fancy shown in the choice of them as in the most studied expressions of our letters, there being, I believe millions of verses designed for this use. There is no color, no flower, no weed, no fruit, herb, pebble, or feather that has not a verse belonging to it; and you may quarrel, reproach, or send letters of passion, friendship, or even news, without even inking your fingers.’”
Click to expand...
 
Wow.

DING! DING! DING!

We have multiple winna's!

Anne hit it first with corsage holder, Jillaroo and Judi confirmed it, Judi also gave us the exact term Tussie Mussie :D, and Tom gave us some great background info.

This is indeed a Tussie Mussie (can't stop saying that!). The ring was for holding the mussie by slipping it over her finger while the lady attended to other matters, the pin secured it to their gown.

Excellent job and congratulations to everyone! Y'all got me on the first shot! ;)
 

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