Martha Stewart Weddings, Fall 2001
Large, open peonies settle into nests of twisted fern vines. Inside each basket is a shallow plastic bowl of water (for extra stability, use a wire grid to hold stems in place). A smaller nest atop the napkin at each place holds a more closed flower; its stem sits in a water tube concealed within the nest.
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7458731
centerpiece
This originally was created in 2001; the source at the time was Kervar, 212-564-8154. They're wholesalers; I'm pretty sure they're still in business, but I don't know whether they still carry them.
A florist might be able to help you find something similar.
Where can I find these twisted fern vine baskets??