Antique Jewellery: Victorian Tussie-Mussies

Guest post is provided by Cynthia Findlay Antiques, a dealer specializing in vintage rings and collectables. Please visit the website for more information.

Collecting antique jewellery doesn’t have to stop at rings, earrings, and necklaces. In fact, many collectors invest in purchasing rare period pieces that are no longer being made today. One of these rare pieces is the tussie mussie.

Also called a posy holder, a tussie mussie is a tiny vase or cone-shaped holder designed to carry fragrant flowers and herbs. Considered portable air-fresheners, tussie mussies were used by women in order to avoid the horrible smells of the street. While walking out and about, women would hold the bouquets close to their noses and sniff the fragrant flowers instead of the smells of the street. Eventually, the bouquets came to represent different meanings, depending on the flowers used.

In America, they became popular around the 1400s. Victorian tussie mussies are essentially tiny vases made of silver or gold. The vases were attached to the woman’s hand with a pin and a finger ring attached by a chain. A typical tussie mussie is made of either silver or gold and features beautiful hand-crafted motifs, such as bows, foliage, ivy, and butterflies.

If you’re in the market for an authentic Victorian tussie mussie, it’s important to find a reputable antique dealer or auction house. Only a reputable dealer can ensure that you’re buying an authentic piece. It’s also important to have money to spend. Vintage pieces are not cheap, especially when it comes to these Victorian gems. Tussie Mussies from the Victorian era can easily range from $500 to $1,000 and more.