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.

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

This silver posy holder belonging to my collection has the shape of a basket of leaves and flowers fixed into a carved mother-of-pearl handle and a glass opening suitable to hold an oval miniature.

It has part of the original chain, lacking only the rod fixing the bouquet in place.

This posy holder is unmarked but it is of European origin (Continental) and dates from the mid-Nineteenth century.

It is 5 in. wide (cm. 12,5), while the "basket" measures slightly over 1 1/2 in. across (cm.4).