18" x 7" (46 x 18 cm). A matching pair of floral bouquets are arranged in white porcelain vases with richly gilded decorations and raised designs of flowers in the center vase panels that match the actual flowers in the bouquets. Nine different varieties of fine garden flowers are included in the arrangement and each is superbly detailed with petals, stamen and pistils. There are also paper mache strawberries and apples and delicate grapes. Each flower carried its own special symbolism for the marriage. The bouquets were carried by the bridesmaids, cradled horizontally in their arms, and later presented to the bride. Arranged in matching vases (or singly, if there was one attendant) on wooden bases under glass domes, they became decorations in the young couple's parlour. French, circa 1890.