While digging through an old box hidden at the back of a cupboard, I stumbled upon some unusual items. Thin, bright, slightly shiny… At first glance, I assumed they were quirky cocktail stirrers or leftover strings of Christmas lights. The sort of odd bits you keep “just in case” but never actually use. Yet, as soon as I held them, something caught my attention: they were glass, fragile, almost poetic. Orange, yellow, green… each one had a tiny, discreet hook. But what on earth were they meant for?
A family memory resurfaced
Puzzled, I mentioned it to someone in my family: my grandfather’s brother. His reply surprised me, but more than anything… touched me. He let out a hearty laugh and explained, as though revealing a hidden jewel: “They’re miniature vases for suit pockets. For buttonholes.” Small vases? For jackets? I could hardly believe such a thing existed.
And suddenly, it became clear: these slim glass tubes fit neatly inside a bre:ast pocket, with a drop of water to keep a flower alive throughout the evening. Such a discreet flourish, yet a sign of remarkable sophistication!
When flowers spoke louder than words
