History of Floral Design

1. History of Floral Design

2. Why should we know history? • Understand traditions • What has happened in the past always reoccurs • To understand the design styles that also affect fashion, home décor and art. • To understand the basis of current trends

3. The Major periods • Are broken down into 3 major categories with individual times falling within each of these. • 1. Early Floral Design periods • 2. European Periods • 3. American Periods

4. Early Design Periods • This includes the following times • Egyptian period • Greek and Roman period • Japanese period

5. Egyptian period • First in recorded history to use flowers for decoration • Valued simplicity and highly stylized repetition (orderly sequence) • Cut flower were placed in bowls, vases or jars and used in religious ceremonies and festivals.

6. Greek and Roman Period • Influenced by Egyptian period • Garlands, wreaths and chaplets were main floral designs. • Flowers were given to honor heroes and gods. • Strewing of flowers and loose petals is a trademark of the period.

7. Influence on Today • Wreaths and garlands still popular. • The strewing of flowers is very popular at weddings.

8. Japanese Influence • Ikebana - Japanese type of design • Design of this era emphasized careful and significant placement of every flower, leaf and branch. • The placement of 3 main flower or branches signifies heaven (shin), man (soe) and Earth (tai)

9. European Periods • Middle Ages • Italian Renaissance • Dutch Flemish Period • French Period • English Period • Early English • Victorian Era

10. Middle Ages • Design continued in Greek/Roman tradition. • Very little is known about the uses except for their use in food, beverages and medicine

11. Italian Renaissance • A time of greater interest in the arts. • Is considered the beginning of flower arranging as it is know today. • Gave flowers their “meanings” • Designs were colorful, large, full and symmetrical with no stems showing. • Fruits and vegetables were mixed with the flowers

12. Influence on Today • Italian period was one of the greatest influence on todays design. • The incorporating of fruits and vegetables is still used today • Flowers still have meanings today.

13. Dutch Flemish Period • Flowers from all over the world were used. • Styles very flamboyant and first time all around • Fruit, shells, bird nests or birdcages or nature objects were popular • Flowers not just for the wealthy

14. Influence on today • Use of accessories • The large arrangements in hotel lobbies is influenced by this period.

15. French Period • Emphasis on classic forms • Designs were refined and elegant • Fan shaped, round and crescent shape were popular. • Very tall arrangements. • Roses very popular and lilies too • Containers were very ornate.

16. English Tradition • Picked flowers for casual bouquets to bring into the home • Major concern is scent • Fashionable English ladies carried nosegays (hand held bouquets) or tussiemussie • Topiary form was developed

17. Influence on today • Centerpieces • Nosegays (forerunner of the wedding bouquet) • Topiary • Bud vases • All of these items are still used today.

18. Later English Period • Also called the Victorian Era after Queen Victoria • This era contributed the most to establish floral design as an art. • The art of design was covered in books and magazines of that time. • This is when many rules and techniques were established.

19. Two popular styles of the time • 1. Large, abundant masses of flowers • Usually round or oval with trailing material to give a romantic look • No center of interest • New and unusual flowers favored • Foliage was used for the first time

20. 2. Small mixed informal bouquets • Used for a romantic feel throughout the home • Usually were picked from the garden

21. Other Victorian items • Language of flowers was studied and used to convey messages especially during courtship. • Sending flowers to ladies before social events was begun. • Loved accessories such as fans, figurines, shells and knickknacks.

22. Influence on Today • Romantic look is still popular • Draping or trailing material is still used for romantic look • Adding of greens/foliages • Emphasis on the art is a necessity of training for the modern day floral designer

23. American Styles • Colonial Period • Greatly influenced by the Europeans • Styles were simple and used native flowers • Grains, grasses and dried flowers used that were native • Filler flowers like babies breath used • Fans and triangular arrangements popular. • Flowers were placed in pots and jars

24. 20th century America • Enjoy the simplicity of Ikebana and modify it to call it line arrangements • The large colorful arrangements of the Europeans were simplified and called mass arrangements and are based on geometric shapes.

25. More American Styles • The line mass style was created to combine the best of the Japanese and the Europeans • Free form styles were developed in the 1960’s. The forgetting of the rules allowed for creativeness. • All designs of today are based upon what has occurred in the past.