Featured Anyone ever seen wire mesh used as a pottery frog?

I found a Roseville vase which held a dried flower arrangement. I had some trouble getting the flowers out - I started to think they might be glued in place. I found some sort of thick wire mesh or screen jammed inside holding onto the stems.

Was this one of those "helpful hints" from yesteryear? Luckily I have a pair of very long-nosed pliers which should help me remove the mesh. I can imagine it's going to feel like a game of Operation (the wacky doctor's game!).

 

Looks like somebody's "make do" solution.

 

That's my guess, too. It looks to me like the kind of mesh they use for plaster and stucco and waterproofing cement. Whatever works, I guess.

 

Very often hardware cloth. Dunno as I seen expanded.

 

Does it move around in the bottom or is it glued in?
Patd

 

It's just wedged in there. They bent it just enough to fit inside, but left enough tension in the wire that it held itself in place.

 

I've seen chicken wire used many a time.