In the early days of the last century, when a huge hat covered with plumes was as conspicuous a consumption symbol as a fine car would be today....ladies spent hours at their dressing table, being dressed for that great social rite: the call. An indispensable item, along with scent bottles, the brush, comb and hair receiver, was the HATPIN HOLDER. Made to hold an assortment of 10 and 12 inch long pins, as elaborate as fine jewelry, and as expensive. This one, in the ephemeral style known as Art Nouveau, stark modern of the period from 1890 to 1912 or so, is made of paper thin lilac colored bisque, unglazed, with just a touch of verdigris wash and a bit of gold trim....miraculously survived these 100-plus years to amaze and delight us today.