While rummaging through an old box at the back of a closet, I came across some curious objects. Thin, colorful, a little shiny… At the time, I thought they were vintage cocktail sticks or leftover Christmas garlands. You know, the kind of things you keep “just in case” but quickly forget what you need. However, as I picked them up, something intrigued me: they were made of glass, delicate, almost poetic. Orange, yellow, green… they all had a small, discreet hook. But what could they possibly be used for?

A family secret that goes back a long way

Curious, I told a family member about it: my grandfather’s brother. His answer surprised me, and above all… moved me. He burst out laughing and said, as if revealing a treasure: “They’re little vases for suit pockets. For buttonholes.” Miniature vases? For suits? I couldn’t believe my ears.

And yet, it all made sense: these thin glass tubes slipped discreetly into the top pocket of a jacket, filled with a hint of water to keep a flower fresh for an evening. Such a subtle detail, yet one of great refinement!

When a flower said it all

At the time, these accessories weren’t just simple ornaments. They carried silent messages, elegant gestures. Men chose their flowers as one chooses their words: a white carnation for a wedding, a red rose for a date, a rare orchid for a trip to the theater. Everything was symbolic. A flower in the boutonniere was a wink, a discreet declaration, a sign of delicacy.

And of course, this little glass vase completed this gesture. It protected the flower, but above all, it demonstrated special care, a subtle and romantic art of living.