A holding device for spherical and flat objects includes a carrier body, a clamping device held to the carrier body, a cover plate held to the carrier body, a plurality of holding elements, and an axle accommodated by the holding elements. The clamping device includes first and second clamping elements for accommodating round or angular objects. The cover plate and carrier body are partially spaced-apart to provide a guide slot, and at least one of the carrier body or the cover plate includes retention elements including formed lips extending from a basic body, each lip including an uninterrupted front edge. The cover plate is pivoted in a tiltable manner around the axle to connect the cover plate with the carrier body and is held under tension of a torsion spring against the carrier body. The cover plate is also formed so as to allow a tilt motion against the force of the spring to open the guide slot.