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Good Questions: Help Solve This Mystery
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052909mysteryitem1.jpgHello Apartment Therapy, I've recently received these two items as gifts. I'm very into the industrial look and love them, but I'm not sure exactly what they are. Apartment Therapy readers, can you help me identify these two charming finds? Thank you! -Brandy

Got a good question you'd like answered? Send your queries and a photo or two (submissions with photos will be posted first) illustrating your question, and we'll see if the Apartment Therapy LA team or our readers can help you out with your question.

 
 

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Comments (41)

looks like flower frogs

posted by loverlee on May 29th 2009 at 9:03pm
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They're antique flower frogs, for flower arrangements.

posted by v.darkbloom on May 29th 2009 at 9:04pm
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I think they're for flower arranging.

posted by juliean on May 29th 2009 at 9:06pm
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They're frogs! You use them at the base of a vase to stand up flowers and keep them spaced and sturdy! Great device for creating professional looking arrangements - taller flowers in center spaces, then graduated down towards outer spaces.

posted by kokeen on May 29th 2009 at 9:07pm
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They look like frogs to me. They go at the bottom of a vase so that flower arrangements stay put.

posted by greenish on May 29th 2009 at 9:10pm
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They are floral frogs. They sit in the vase to help hold the stems and arrange flowers.

Have fun with them!

posted by akimbo on May 29th 2009 at 9:10pm
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this is a flower frog, it is held in place in a bowl or vase by florist tape or floral clay. add water and put the flowers in. the cage of the frog keeps the flower stems in place . other flower frogs are metal with many small spikes that the stems are stuck on, or glass frogs with holes for the stems.

posted by patrickmc on May 29th 2009 at 9:12pm
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They're old English suet baits. You fill then with suet and poison and the rats come and eat them, then die. They are VERY valuable, rare antiques.

posted by mskk on May 29th 2009 at 9:22pm
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I'm pretty sure these are vintage, industrial drain guards (drain dome and collar). Used in swimming pools etc.

posted by uselessinfo on May 29th 2009 at 10:06pm
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They also look like flower frogs to me.

posted by cassielynn on May 29th 2009 at 10:12pm
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I guess we all need the diameter though; if small- flower frogs.

posted by uselessinfo on May 29th 2009 at 10:12pm
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Definitely flower frogs. Here is a picture of some similar ones on a flower frog aficionado's website: http://www.bullworks.net/ffg/metal/metal2.html

Gotta love the internet...

posted by LilyC on May 29th 2009 at 10:15pm
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These were gifts? Or "finds"?

posted by pbphoenix on May 29th 2009 at 10:30pm
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they are flower frogs. Try sticking pens and pencils in the holes--it looks pretty neat. The more colorful the better.

posted by bcthree on May 29th 2009 at 10:31pm
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Frogs!!!!! They're floral frogs. Use them to arrange flowers. Or pencils. Or watercolor brushes. Or chopsticks. Or licorice. Or uncooked spaghetti. Or straws. Or bread sticks. Very, very thin bread sticks. Think of the possibilities.......

posted by FallingAcorn on May 29th 2009 at 10:31pm
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Of course the first thing I thought of since I'm an architect is "floor drain inserts". My left brain took over my good design sense :(

posted by katalyst on May 29th 2009 at 11:25pm
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they are old flower arrangment holders to put inside a pot they are kinda heavy enough.

posted by antonietta on May 30th 2009 at 12:48am
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I think they're cages for little gay mice to go-go dance in at circuit parties.

posted by Donald in Pigtown on May 30th 2009 at 6:12am
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Why must the mice be gay? Aren't we at a point in the world that hetero's can enjoy the same entertainment as gays?

posted by LauraE on May 30th 2009 at 8:29am
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The gay mice says they are flower frogs, and suggests that if you use them as such, rest them on cellophane to avoid scratching the vase.

posted by enmnm on May 30th 2009 at 9:28am
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If they're big enough to fit over a light bulb, I think they'd make very cool light fixtures.

posted by 950 on May 30th 2009 at 11:12am
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the cages... maybe not so disco... gay mice are into bondage I'm afraid... not that there's anything wrong with that!... tiny hand-cuffs etc.

posted by Philip_Littell on May 30th 2009 at 11:31am
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i think they'd also make great kitchen twine holders, or maybe good holders for that green wire you use to train plants on a trellis?

posted by veronicainla on May 30th 2009 at 12:48pm
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Hi, today I actually saw them in the book found style by amy butler (her earlier book) and they were being used as a pencil holder and they called it a flower frog. page 52 for those who want to get the book, it's great!

posted by coophaus on May 30th 2009 at 1:35pm
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I once saw some mice disco dancing underneath one of these things. I'm not sure if they were gay. One of them was wearing a Members Only jacket.

posted by FallingAcorn on May 30th 2009 at 1:57pm
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Definitely flower frogs.

posted by jeffnyc on May 30th 2009 at 2:41pm
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I would do something goofy with them like hanging them off of the ceiling/patio with fishing line.....and putting long stemmed flowers in the holes (real or fake). Same use as in a vase, but more unique.

posted by baileyb on May 30th 2009 at 3:01pm
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FallingAcorn--no self-respecting gay mouse would be caught wearing a Members Only jacket. I suspect they were hets.

posted by timmy jr. on May 30th 2009 at 3:04pm
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medieval pasties.

posted by Seaside on May 30th 2009 at 4:20pm
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Definitely floral frogs. Also important, use a bit of floral putty to adhere the frog to the bottom of the vase whilke the surfaces are dry. It will keep the frog from moving around.

posted by AccidentalGypsy on May 30th 2009 at 6:36pm
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Gay disco mice in the flower frogs! Duh.

posted by Jesse Lu on May 30th 2009 at 8:17pm
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Things I learn at Apartment Therapy...=)

posted by SillyBug on May 31st 2009 at 10:26am
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They look like antique urinal puck cages, similar to the plastic ones here: http://shop.drainguardian.com/images/12253901833542054420912.jpeg
I hope you haven't touched the too much...

posted by blndsoccer on May 31st 2009 at 1:37pm
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I think they're very cool and they're definitely flower frogs. The gay disco dancing mice thread was pretty damn funny.

posted by AustinSarah on June 1st 2009 at 3:59am
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I side with Seaside's answer.

posted by swingjingle on June 1st 2009 at 7:15am
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Thanks for the gay mice thread. So often people get so prissy and stuck up their own butts on AT that they can't laugh at a joke. Very refreshing. ^_^

posted by Avinony on June 1st 2009 at 12:18pm
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They look like they have a mouse sized door.

posted by StudioStarter on June 1st 2009 at 12:40pm
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I have been dying to find one of these for my office. Interested in selling? :)

posted by decor8Holly on June 1st 2009 at 5:52pm
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Heh.. this is so fun just reading through the comments, I think I'll go get some popcorn and come back and hopefully they'll be some more entertainment! Used for pencils or whatever is a good idea, I've seen that and it looks cute.

Cage dancing mice... in little vintage frogs... a new disney film on the horizon?

posted by sfteri on June 7th 2009 at 10:54pm
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Laura E No offense but are there straight circuit parties? The image of the dancing mice is priceless

posted by hippyvieja on July 6th 2009 at 10:12pm
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