floral design history

Federal Period ca. 1780 AD - 1820 AD

Americans began to break out of the mould and develop their own flower stylings. in Europe, the Neoclassic and Empire styles were popular which had a great impact on America. arrangements that used fewer masses of bouquets in favour of showcasing the charm of individual flowers. fewer flowers held in a container. focused more on the beauty of the arrangements then the quantity.

Present

Both traditional and line mass arrangements continue to be important in modern design and decoration. flowers that used to be only available in season are now available all year round due to hybrids and growing techniques. Certain materials make the arrangements last longer than ever like Floral Foam, shaping wire, and individual water phials.

The Egyptian Period ca. 2800 BCE - 28 BCE

Discovered through wall and tomb decorations and artefacts mainly.the Royals made extensive use out of flower, fruit and foliage arrangements styled in baskets and vases.They arranged and even cultivated roses, acacia, violets, poppies, violets, jasmine, Madonna lilies and narcissus. The Lotus Blossom was considered sacred in ancient Egyptian culture, as they believed its yellow centre and white petals signified Ra, the Sun God. look was very put together and proper, with no bunching or overlapping of the material, and smart stem supports built into the top of the containers.always placed flowers, foliage and fruits in spouted vases with no visible stems, or around the edge of the vase about two inches above the rim

Modern (Contemporary) Periods ca. 1890 AD - 2000 AD

Lots of different styles only lasting for 20 years or so. Art Nouveau Period from 1890 -1910 was known for arrangements that were based on curvilinear lines, patterned after nature in the shape of plants and flowers. Art Deco Period took place in the 1920s and lasted until the 1930s. use of strong patterns and geometric lines. Free Form Expression began in the 1950s and lasted until the 1960s. more expressive with feelings, movement, and freedom. Lots of different materials and textures, more like art. Geometric Mass Design 1960-1970 stiff-looking patterns and arrangements in compote containers. mimics the Oriental styles, in that clean-cut sculptural design

Louis XVI ca. 1785 AD - 1800 AD (French)

Marie Antoinette furthered the feminine design trend of flower arranging. LESS use of lavish containers. increasing the use of cooler colours like light purples, lavenders and whites, and more delicate flowers. before the French Revolution. During the short reign of Louis XVI

Colonial Williamsburg Period ca. 1740 AD - 1780 AD (American)

Mass arrangements were still assembled using a bunch of colours. Americans favouring Georgian and French designs that they made more symmetrical and sophisticated. best known for its flower arrangements in finger vases and flower bricks. Triangular flower arrangements and fanned groupings at the top, sometimes three times the height of the containers.

The French Rococo Period ca. 1750 AD - 1785 AD

Rococo means rock and shell. tribute to the period's gentle arcs and graceful designs. invention of Antoinette Poisson, mistress of Louis XV, and was more formal, adding more feminine colours and airy design features. predominantly crescent-shaped and designed to look open and light.

Renaissance Period 1400 AD - 1600 AD

The Renaissance style of floral design began in Italy. enjoyed floral arrangements with large masses of flowers. they hung long garlands of fruits blossoms and leaves from the vaulted ceilings of cathedrals and on walls.Common flowers: roses and Primroses, olive and ivy branches, daisies, lilies, Lily of the Valley, violets and laurel dianthus. Bright, contrasting colours in a triadic colour scheme. arrangements were usually placed in huge, heavy containers.

Chinese and Japanese Han Period

a much heavier influence on flower design in the Americas than the Europeans did. used as an integral component in religious teachings and medicine. traditionally placed cut flowers on their altars (Buddhists, Taoists, and practitioners of Confucianism). Buddhist monks cut flowers and plants sparingly, using certain flowers and leaves to make a basket arrangements based on particular symbolic meanings. structure of Japanese Ikebana floral arrangements is based on a scalene triangle, which many believe to symbolize heaven, earth, and man. usually delineate the triangle. Japanese flower containers are almost as important as the structure of the arrangement and were traditionally made from pottery.

Roman Period ca. 28 BCE - 325 AD

abundant qualities of Greek floristry and infused their own regal, elaborate design aspects; best represented by the tapered olive crowns of the Roman emperors. Instead of using fruits and arrangements to fill baskets like Greeks and Egyptians, Ancient Romans used flowers. kept the Greeks' garlands, wreaths and crowns but made showier with the addition of new and exotic flowers like the crocus, oleander, myrtle, amaranth, ivy, narcissi and Laurel (brought by rise in trade). Egyptian style of using vases in floral arrangements (rise in trade). the tradition of "Dies Rosationis,"placing roses on caskets in remembrance of those who've passed. "Sub Rosa,"hanging an all-white wreath of roses from the ceiling to signify everything said below will be kept secret.

Georgian Period ca. 1714 AD - 1837 AD (English)

birthed from feudalism when, in the 15th and 16th Centuries, the collective fortresses in England gave way to smaller ruling homes. houses had fresh flowers brought in every day for their fragrance, NOT their beauty. flower arrangements in the first half of this period were born of function. Flower containers from this period are mostly boxes with holes punched at certain angles to hold flower stems. no mind for design.

Early American Period ca. 1620 AD - 1720 AD

birthed from necessity. In early years plants were grown for medical and food. arrangements were modest and simple, good for modest homes. used as decoration mainly in the central and southern colonial areas where the weather permitted. designs were copied mostly from the English Georgian and French Empire Periods

Byzantine Period ca. 320 AD - 600 AD

final period in Classical floral design.symmetrical designs that made frequent use of elaborate containers with pointed bases and tree-like compositions. changed the construction of garlands more of a narrow foliage band on which they'd alternate flowers and fruits..added the Espalier to our collective floral heritage (new type of stylised tree, conical in shape with perfectly spaced clusters of fruits or flowers on branches)

Victorian Era ca. 1837 AD - 1901 AD (English)

first time anyone tried to establish official floristry rules.giving single-flower bouquets to convey specific meanings, hearkening back to the Classical Greek period. Gifts of chrysanthemum bouquets mean love. A red carnation means the feelings aren't mutual. tussie-mussie and nosegay bouquets becoming a necessity at every social gathering.

The French Baroque Period ca. 1600 AD - 1750 AD

influenced by politicians not by painters. politicians who wanted to show more feminine appeal via colour and size of the flowers used. introduction of the topiary and a symmetrical design style with no focal point. arrangements were more casual, fragile and delicate. designs fit perfectly into a home with a French Country design style.

American Victorian Period ca. 1820 AD - 1920 AD

occurred at the same time as the European Victorian period. used certain European techniques. techniques like ornate containers made of different kinds of materials were used, often overflowing with flowers. the containers were usually white or another cool colour. arrangements usually made in rich, royal purples, magentas, and deep dark blues. The Tuzzy-Muzzy most popular in deep South.

Middle Ages 476 AD - 1400 AD

only people who practised floristry were European monks. primary use at churches in the forms of wreaths, garlands and vase arrangements.arranged in vases during the Middle Ages, and not just any vases, flowers were arranged in Chinese flasks.signs of Chinese influence in Middle Age floral design. increasing the different types and cultures of flowers that would be used in floral design moving forward. know very little

Empire Period ca. 1804 AD - 1814 AD (French)

revival of the Classical Period. Flower arrangements were strictly militaristic in theme and masculine in quality. Bonaparte ordered femininity to be dropped from the French design. arrangements that were massive in size and weight and had large and garish symbols of the Empire. symbols such as Napoleon's trademark "N," the bee, lion, or Empire star. containers constructed to resemble lions and beehives. arrangements simple and triangular

The Greek Period ca. 600 BCE - 46 BCE

the Classical Greek Period of floristry are the garland, the wreath, and the Horn of Plenty or Cornucopia. Flowers worn in ladies' hair, and lovers exchanged small, perfumed wreaths to each other. Unique garlands and wreaths were presented as religious tributes to Olympians and military heroes. special officially designated designers, (for wreathes) and a set of rules was even written.the piece's colour was NEVER as important as the fragrance, type of flowers used and symbolism. flowers like hyacinths, honeysuckle, roses, lilies, tulips, larkspur and marigolds. herbs like rosemary, flowering basil and thyme.

Baroque and Flemish Periods 1600 AD - 1775 AD

the painters set the floral design styles,Michelangelo who took flower arranging and transitioned it into the Baroque Period. floral designs were tall and massive, using many flowers of an unrestrained colour palette, with the shape of the arrangements tending to be oval and symmetrical. use of accessories like fans, birds and butterflies were also included to make for a full composition. new technique was developed: curved designs, specifically the C (curved) and S (Hogarth) shapes (more graceful and elegant appearance)