Two botanical illustrations of Victorian nosegays by Henriëtte Geertruida Knip (1783–1842); oiginally found on Wikimedia here and here.
A nosegay, posy, or tussie-mussie is a small flower bouquet. They have existed in some form since at least medieval times, when they were carried or worn around the head or bodice. Doilies are traditionally used to bind the stems in these arrangements. Alternatively, “posy holders”, available in a variety of shapes and materials (although often silver), enable the wearing of these arrangements at the waist, in the hair, or secured with a brooch.
The term nosegay arose in fifteenth century Middle English as a combination of nose and gay (the latter then meaning “ornament”). A nosegay is, thus, an ornament that appeals to the nose or nostril.
The term tussie-mussie (also tussy-mussy) comes from the reign of Queen Victoria (1837–1901), when the small bouquets became a popular fashion accessory. Typically, tussie-mussies include floral symbolism from the language of flowers and therefore may be used to send a message to the recipient. In modern times, the term specifically refers to small bouquets in a conical metal holder, or the holder itself, particularly when used at a white wedding. [Source: Wikimedia]
Digitally enhanced versions (by Field & Garden) of the botanical illustrations (seen above) can be downloaded as 12” x 18” @ 300 ppi JPEGs here and here.
Digitally enhanced reproductions of public domain fine art are shared under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.