Q: I bought this item at a New Orleans antiques shop. I don’t think it’s an antique. The dealer said it might be a flower holder, however, the holes go right through so it couldn’t hold flowers in water. The two curved glass pieces are each about 7 1/4 inches long. The candles stuck in the holes are about 1/2 inch in diameter. What exactly is it for?
A: The dealer was right, it’s a flower holder or flower frog. A flower frog is used to hold flowers in an arrangement in a vase or bowl of water. The two pieces form a circle when set in the bottom of the bowl. Then flowers are put in the holes and water is added. It probably dates from the 1960s. Two pieces like this were offered for sale recently for $48.
I’d just like to say that my mother had one of these flower frogs. She bought it new in 1959 or 1960 in England. Her’s was a clear green glass but otherwise identical to the one bought in New Orleans. She used it often until her passing in 2003. I sold it at a UK auction for £50 in 2004. I don’t know the exchange rate for 2004 but at today’s rate that equates to roughly $78.
Jannie (Jannie Junk)