Pulaski County Extension Homemakers
Tussie Mussies and Their Holders
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For over fifty years, my greatest pleasure has been encouraging others to
grow, use, and enjoy herbs. As a child, my mother introduced me to the
interesting world of herbs. A finishing school product, she had been taught the
proper way to make a talking bouquet using florigraphy, or the language of
flowers. Many books were written during the early to late 1800s. These were
especially popular in England, France, Italy, Russia, and America. Ladies and
men of the times were unusually shy, but they could convey their feelings by
giving bouquets using the flowers with the meanings they wished to express.
In England, these collections of flowers and herbs were called poseys or
nosegays. In France, they were called porta bouquetiers, and in the United
States, the terms Tussie Mussie or Colonial Bouquet were preferred. The
Americans found many English things distasteful so they preferred to call them
Tussie Mussies. This name for a “Tyte Twist of Fleurs” was found in a
French-English dictionary dated 1440.
Through the ages, these collections of herbs and flowers have taken on a
significance adding meaning to bouquets. The actual use of the language of
flowers first appeared in Persia, Turkey, Arabia, and Greece. Lady Wortly
Montague, wife of the Turkish ambassador wrote long letters back to England
telling of the Turks conveying messages using the symbolism of flowers, herbs,
and fruit. Later, her letters were published, and this information was the basis
for many books on florigraphy.
These simple herb and flower bouquets were commonplace necessities during the
early Medieval to Victorian times to combat the stench of unsanitary conditions.
Judges carried hand-held flowers in to the goals, wore poseys in their lapels;
women either carried the poseys or tied them at their waist.
Holders were known in the 1700s and were a fashion statement until the First
World War. At the end of the Eighteenth Century, simplicity of design became
associated with good taste, and tussie mussies were on their way out.
The Duke of Wellington escorted Lady de Ros to a famous ball given by the
Duchess of Richmond on June 17, 1815, and she carried a gold nosegay holder
valued at 200 guineas. Costume illustrations during the reign of Queen Victoria,
starting about 1838, indicate that hand-held bouquets were popular at that time.
From 1840 through the Victorian Period, holders were important accessories at
social functions. Young ladies presented to society during that time carried
their bouquets in holders which were often gifts from their escorts. They wore
white gowns just as present-day debutantes. The jewelry they wore often was
given by their family or by the mother of the escort, and it would echo the
design of the holder.
It was noted in 1839 that properly instructed young ladies should be able to
decipher what message might be indicated in the bouquet. Mothers were told to
teach their daughters religion and how to construct a charming nosegay according
to the language of flowers.
Holders were made from pot metal to gold with elaborate designs. Few are found
with the maker’s stamp since most were made one-of-a-kind for specific
individuals.
The Smithsonian Museum has a large collection of holders given by Frances
Jean Poetker, a Cincinnati florist. Frances, her father, and her grandfather
were all florists who collected them.
There has been a resurgence of interest in holders and the language of
flowers in the last twenty years. Many lists of flowers and their meanings have
been published in magazines, making this information available to the trade as
well as brides-to-be. A list of books can be found at the end of this material
that will give you information to use in making nosegays or in growing and
selling herb plants that can carry a message as was common during the Victorian
Period. Brides are asking that this information be used when making their bridal
bouquets.
Back to the Language of Flowers
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