Bouquet stick of the mother shell handle Hermitage Museum
The rod body made of warm white mother shell is made of hollow design, brass gilt accented with rubies and corals...
At first glance, isn't this a hair ornament worn on the head like a hairpin?
The scene of the "National Treasure" program
If you think so, you're dead wrong!
This extravagant and exquisite artifact is actually a bouquet of flowers (Tussie Mussie) used to wrap the bouquet.
Left: Flowers Right: Bouquet stick with a female shell handle
In the dreamy and romantic Victorian era, ladies often went out with three magic weapons: folding fans, waist hangings and bouquet sticks.
(Related reading: Don't mess with the fan Oh ~ be careful that others misunderstand that you love him!)
utility! Luxury! "Swiss Army Knife" for women, the hottest waist treasure chest in Europe in the 18th century)
Left: Waist hanging Top: Folding fan Down: Bouquet stick
Among them, under the admiration of Queen Victoria, the bouquet stick has not only become a must-have fashion item for upper-class women, but also a luxurious thing for ladies to convey affection.
Graph source network
Tools used to carry flowers
The history of bouquet sticks goes back to 14th-century Europe.
Beginning in 1347, a plague called the Black Death swept across Europe, killing a third of Europeans and killing more than 25 million.
The 14th century Black Death spread in Europe
However, due to the limitations of medical care, people have been unable to find the real cause of the Black Death.
At that time, it was found that breathing the air breathed by the patient and bathing with the water used by the patient would cause the disease, so the Holy See trumpeted that bathing would increase the risk of infection, and even preached that the cleanliness of the body was a blasphemy against the soul.
Dark Middle Ages
However, if you do not bathe for a long time, the body will emit an unpleasant smell, and people will use a cloth soaked with spices to wipe the bath. However, this is not a cure for the symptoms, and after the fragrance is dissipated, the body odor on the body will be emitted again.
At this time, fragrant flowers, perfume rings for perfume, perfume balls and other items that can mask the smell have become a must-have for people to go out.
Graph source network
Among them, flowers have become the love of women of all classes in the upper, middle and lower classes due to their bright colors, long-lasting aroma and easy access.
Graph source network
However, wearing flowers directly on the body is not only easy to dirty clothes, but also some of the stems are covered with flower thorns, which is extremely inconvenient to carry.
So the craftsmen used metal, most commonly silver, to make a miniature vase to wrap the bouquet.
19th-century silver bouquet sticks from the Hermitage Museum collection
At the bottom of the small vase, moist mosses are placed to keep their rhizomes moist and ensure the freshness of the bouquet. Some nobles also placed cotton balls soaked in perfume in bouquet sticks to increase the aroma.
A must-have for elegant women
In the beautiful and romantic Victorian period, this bouquet had a cute and loving name - Tussie Mussie.
The cute name is actually a combination of two words — Tussie originated from an old English word meaning snuff bottle, and Mussie refers to the wet moss used to keep the flowers moist. In French it is called porte-bouquet.
Graph source network
A complete Tussie Mussie generally consists of three parts: a delicate container, usually with plant elements, a handle made of mother shell or metal, a long needle that holds the bouquet in place, and a ring on the hand.
Tussie Mussie is part of the | Draft: Jeweler
In addition to referring to the container itself that wraps the bouquet, Tussie Mussie refers more to the small bouquet that is wrapped. The name has been replaced in modern times by the words Posy holder/Nosegay.
Graph source network
In the Victorian period, the public promotion of feelings was considered a taboo in society, so the bouquets used to cover up the body odor in the early days were given the mission of conveying information, becoming objects of expression of love and fashion items necessary for upper-class women.
Lady holding a bouquet of roses
In the article "Don't mess with fans Oh ~ be careful that others misunderstand that you love him!" In the book, Mr. J has mentioned that the swaying fans in the hands of ladies are tools for transmitting secret words.
Like folding fans, Tussie Mussie also took on the role of conveying information—if a lady accepted a gentleman's courtship, she inserted the bouquet she received into Tussie Mussie and took it to the ball.
In 1717, a talented poetess, Mary Wortley Montagu, introduced the concept of "flower language" to England.
Impressions of Fiameta Dante Gabriel Rossetti
In 1809, Joseph Hammer-Purgstal wrote the Dictionary of Flower Language, which defined the meaning of flowers in terms of variety, color, and how they were worn.
For example, white violet means "innocence", crimson rose means "love", honeysuckle means "sweet" and "lingering"...
Not only do the flowers sent have allegories, for example, the red tulip is a declaration of love, but the flowers given back are also exquisite - the young lady returns a dogwood as a sign of indifference, and pink means that she rejects the feelings of the suitor.
Flower dictionary
Since then, hundreds of dictionaries for interpreting flower language have been published, and the style of interpreting flower language has gradually become popular.
According to the Dictionary of Flower Language, flowers with different meanings are decorated on their hair, clothes, or cleverly combined together, made into bouquets, held in their hands, and conveyed affection to their loved ones.
Flower language
With the popularity of the flower language, Tussie Mussie, which is used to fix the bouquet, has become a fashion item as important as flowers.
The craftsmen carved intricate and exquisite patterns on gold, silver and porcelain as the main materials, and decorated them with pearls, diamonds, and various colored treasures.
Graph source network
The reserved ladies fastened the bouquet of flowers sent by the gentleman to Tussie Mussie with long needles, and when they danced, this small and fragrant gadget was put on their slender fingers and swayed freely to the dance skirt and music.
Bouquets of flowers not only make the ladies look charming at the ball, but also have a great use in ordinary times - the ladies often cover their noses with Tussie Mussie to resist the various smells emitted by the streets.
Graph source network
Queen Victoria, who loves flowers, can be said to be a loyal admirer of Tussie Mussie.
Graph source network
From attending important banquets to wedding ceremonies with Prince Albert to coronations, a small, delicate, flower-laden Tussie Mussie has become a must-have for Queen Victoria.
Queen Victoria holds a bouquet stick in her hand
In 1855, when Queen Victoria visited Paris, France, Queen Eugenie gave Queen Victoria a Tussie Mussie embedded with various color treasures as a gift, and she knew that the price was not cheap.
(Related reading: Men's skirt pins? Wearing an ear scoop on your head? 5 types of practical jewelry, the last one you would never expect)
Queen Eugenie's gift to Queen Victoria
Under the admiration of the royal family, Tussie Mussie was gradually carried forward, and once became the most popular jewelry in the West with hand fans and waist hangings. Even today, in Western retro weddings, you can often see the figure of bouquet sticks.
A noblewoman holding a bouquet stick
Mr J said:
Tussie Mussie has evolved into a delicate little bouquet of flowers that has become a small accessory for brides in Western weddings. Although decorating flower containers is no longer so luxurious, the elegance, refinement and romance of the ladies are as good as ever.
Note: The pictures in this article originate from the network, if there is infringement, please contact Xiaobian to delete ~