TAPPAN

BOUQUET HOLDER
GLASS BOOTS

by Theodore D. Delude

Tappan Bouquet Holder Boots

Herman Tappan was issued a patent on December 14, 1886 for what
is known as a Bouquet Holder glass boot. Tappan was an
entrepreneur who owned the largest perfume manufacturing business
in New York City. Although his name is on the patent, he didnt
make these boots. Unfortunately, the maker of these boots is
unknown. The following may explain why.
On page 73 of the book, Finlay Glass, the glass tableware manufacturers,
1886-1902 by James Measell and Don E. Smith, they write:
Although stemware and a limited number of tableware sets seem
to constitute the bulk of the Bellaires ( The Bellaire Goblet Co.)
output, some attractive novelties were also made. None of these were
mentioned in any of the trade periodicals, but all ( novelties made by
Bellaire) have been verified from fragments dug at the factory site.
Not mentioning or printing in their catalogs some of the novelties
that they offered by a number of glass companies appears to have
been a common occurrence. Finding any fragments or remains of
these Bouquet Holder boots has never occurred. So, we are left to
simply state, maker unknown.
The original Bouquet Holders came in the following colors. Crystal
or Clear, Vaseline, Amber, Blue, Amethyst and Apple Green.
Amethyst is hard to find and Apple Green is rare.
The Crystal, Amber and Blue boots are found with both
BOUQUET HOLdER PAT. APPLIED FOR and
BOUQUET HOLdER PATENT DEC. 1886 on the base.
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Tappan Bouquet Holder Boots cont.

The Vaseline, Amethyst and Apple Green boots have only been
found with BOUQUET HOLdER PAT. APPLIED FOR For
some reason, the d in holder is lower case.
On Plate 23 in Libby Yalom's Shoes of Glass and Shoes of Glass 2
books on glass shoes, she says she had two blue boots that had the
same color and appearance. One had Pat. Applied For and nothing
else and the other had nothing at all on the base. These, she says, are
variations of the originals. I don't have any of these to compare, but
this is why one has to be watchful for this possibility. Knowing the
correct colors and quality of the glass ( having an original to compare
side by side ) will help from making a mistake.
There are still many of the original Bouquet Holder boots available,
especially on eBay. There are also many reproductions or copies out
there which can be very confusing as to what is original and what
isnt. That is the purpose of this document, to help anyone to tell the
difference with pictures to compare.

Originals vs. Reproductions

Fenton Art Glass came out in 1965-66 with a Bouquet Holder boot
that didnt have any lettering at all on the base. A blank base that
came in these colors. Colonial Blue, Colonial Amber, Colonial
Green, Opaque White and Orange. See page 13.
In 1995, Fenton made a Pink iridized Bouquet Holder boot for QFC.
This boot is shorter, and has only seven horizontal laces down the
front strip vs. nine on all other boots. Also, there is a very small
Fenton oval on the base and the base has no other lettering. See page
14.
There are a number of cheap crinkly glass reproductions boots
probably made in Taiwan that have just BOUQUET HOLdER on
the base. They come in Crystal or Clear, dark Blue, dark Green and
dark Amber. There may be other colors as well.
Its pretty easy to tell the difference holding an original along side
one of these repros. The main thing to look for is the quality of the
glass, whether it is clear or crinkly, and the color. Also, whether it
has sharp features or rounder and heavier features. The originals
measure 5 inches high and 4 3/8 inches long. See page 17.

Apple Green
BOUQUET HOLdER PAT.APPLIED FOR
This Apple Green original Bouquet Holder shoe is a rare color.

Amber
BOUQUET HOLdER PAT. APPLIED FOR

Amber
BOUQUET HOLdER PATENT DEC 1886

Amber
WOODSIDES BOOTS & SHOES

Blue
BOUQUET HOLdER PAT. APPLIED FOR

Blue
BOUQUET HOLdER PATENT DEC. 1886

Vaseline
BOUQUET HOLdER PAT. APPLIED FOR

10

Amethyst
BOUQUET HOLdER PAT. APPLIED FOR

11

Crystal
BOUQUET HOLdER PAT. APPLIED FOR

12

Fenton Hi Button Boots 1965-66

No lettering on base blank

Colonial Blue

Orange

Colonial Green

13

Fenton Iridized Petal Pink 1995

Made for QFC blank base

14

Unknown maker
BOUQUET HOLdER

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Originals vs Reproduction
Notice the thickness of the glass on the reproduction shoe
vs. the thinner edge of the original Amethyst & Apple Green

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Original vs. Reproduction

Notice the height difference between the original Amber and
the iridized Fenton in the middle and the Colonial Blue Fenton
Also the iridized Fenton has only seven lace lines down the
center strip where all the other shoes have nine lace lines.

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Original vs. Reproduction

This is another view to compare the original Amber vs. the
two reproduction shoes. The Amberina colored shoe dates
from the 1970s. The maker is unknown.

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Reproduction Boot
This cobalt boot is a reproduction that is easy to spot. It has rounder
and thicker sides and also a solid panel instead of an opening between
the heel and sole of the boot. Also the base is thicker. It doesnt have
the sharp features of an original Bouquet Holder boot.

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Reproduction Boots
These four boots are the kind that come from overseas.

Reproduction

Original
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Final Remarks
Without an original to compare with a reproduction side by side, it
can be sometimes difficult to tell what you have. I hope these pictures
presented here are helpful in telling the originals from the copies. The
color of the boot is the first sign to check. Then the lettering or lack
of on the fiddle like base. Is the glass heavier with rounder features?
There are several original Bouquet Holder boots that have
advertising on the base. WOODSIDES BOOTS & SHOES is one.
These boots are very hard to find and come in Amber, Blue and
Crystal for certain and possibly Vaseline, although I dont know of
one. Woodsides was a shoe store located in Denver, Colorado.
One other boot with advertising on it has recently surfaced which
has COMPLIMENTS of JAMES WOTHERSPOON on the base.
I believe that Wotherspoon was from Ogden, Utah and was in the
candy and confectionary business and traveled throughout the
Western states representing the Shupe-Williams Candy Co.
Hopefully, there are more of this boot out there. So far, I know of
only one, in Amber.
The Apple Green boot that is shown is very rare, only two are
known to exist. There are many originals and even more
reproductions in a variety of colors out there. Knowing which is
which is helpful in determining the value and what you should pay
for it. Ive seen prices ranging from $ 9.99 to $70.00 on eBay for an
original. What should you pay for one? That is determined by how
bad you want one and how much you are willing to spend for it.

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More Comparisons

Reproduction

Original

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Another Comparison

Reproduction

Original

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