Russian Niello 84 Silver Tussie Mussie Posey Posy Crocodile / Serpent (#J1330)

Item Description

The term tussie mussie dates back to the reign of Queen Victoria who was fond of carrying these little floral bouquets wherever she went. When carrying them caught the eye of the wealthy and middle class, holders were copied and mass produced. The tussie mussies and the decorative posy holders they were held in became a popular fashion accessory in Victorian times for young ladies to hold flowers brought by courting gentlemen callers. They were a popular gift and carried by matrons, debutantes, and girls. By the 1830s, using decorative holders to contain these small bouquets became an established fashion trend. The posy holders were created to keep delicate and expensive silk dresses and other pieces of clothing protected from water droplets when wearing a tussie mussie. The floral bouquet was pinned into the holder, and then for a formal occasion would be suspended from her hand using a chain so that she was free to dance. A "tussie" is a nosegay, a small group of flowers held together in a little bouquet and that was held at nose level, and "mussie" refers to the moss that was moistened and put around the stems of the flowers to keep them from wilting.  

Russian Niello 84 Silver Tussie Mussie Posey Posy Crocodile / Serpent (#J1330)

Remarkable Russian niello and gilt silver tussie mussie or posy holder. It is fully hallmarked for 84 silver which is 875/1000. It has turquoise eyes on a serpent/crocodile handle. Beautifully hand engraved with flowers and scrollwork. It measures a large 7 1/4" long and weighs a substantial 2.5 troy ounces. It dates from the 1890s. There is a crack on the underside. Terrific piece!

Niello is a black mixture, usually of sulphur, copper, silver, and lead used as an inlay on engraved or etched metal, especially silver.

SKU#J1330.

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