You’ve got it right — it’s a glass flower frog 🌸
What it is:
A flower frog is a vase insert used to hold flower stems upright and spaced evenly. The narrowed openings around the perimeter are designed to guide individual stems so floral arrangements look full and intentional instead of collapsing inward.
Why it’s glass:
- Common from the late 1800s through the 1930s
- Popular before floral foam existed
- Glass versions were favored for table centerpieces because they were:
- Non-rusting
- Easy to clean
- Visually elegant (especially in clear or depression-era glass)
How it was used:
Placed in the bottom of a bowl or vase → filled with water → stems inserted into each opening.
Why you find them at grandparents’ houses:
They were household staples, especially for people who:
- Cut flowers from their own gardens
- Entertained formally
- Decorated seasonally
Value:
- Common clear glass: usually $10–30
- Colored, patterned, or branded (Cambridge, Heisey, Fostoria): $40–150+
- Condition matters (no chips or cracks)
If you’d like, describe the shape, size, and color, or whether there are any markings, and I can help narrow down the age, maker, and value more precisely.
