Posey Holder

A double image of a posy on a swirly wooden table. At the top the posy has pink flowers inside.
Posey from the Eldon House collection

Country of Origin: Britian  
Year: ca. 1860 
Materials: Silver Filigree  

We tend to think about how the past looks, but not how it smells: it would not have been pleasant! During balls, young ladies often would carry flowers to add nice odors and mask any unpleasant scents. Posey holders were meant to keep bunches of flowers together and to protect cloths from wet stems. It is believed that this piece belonged to Lucy Ronalds Harris who used it on her wedding day in 1867.  The chain and ring at its base was used by being looped over a gloved finger, so that the posy could hang during dancing. 

We acknowledge that we are on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Attawandaron. We honour and respect the history, languages and culture of the diverse Indigenous people who call this territory home.

We acknowledge all the treaties that are specific to this area: the Two Row Wampum Belt Treaty of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy/Silver Covenant Chain; the Beaver Hunting Grounds of the Haudenosaunee NANFAN Treaty of 1701; the McKee Treaty of 1790, the London Township Treaty of 1796, the Huron Tract Treaty of 1827, with the Anishinaabeg, and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum of the Anishnaabek and Haudenosaunee.

The three Indigenous Nations that are neighbours to London are the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation; Oneida Nation of the Thames; and the Munsee-Delaware Nation who all continue to live as sovereign Nations with individual and unique languages, cultures, and customs.