Bonita Springs, FL Florist

Art of Floristry 101

Timeline of the Development of Floral Design

In the last article, we learned about the history of flower arrangements. We went over the tales behind the names of flowers.

We also discovered how societies used flowers in their everyday lives. From there, we learned how floristry turned into the high-profit industry that it is now.

Here, we'll talk about how floral design developed from ancient to modern-day styles. We'll go through each significant period in history. We'll track changes in floristry from Ancient Egypt to the Middle Ages.

Then, we'll cover art movements in France to the Victorian Period in Europe and America. Finally, we get to its latest forms today.

Interested in a formal course? Want to get certified as a flower expert? Check into organizations offering classes in floristry, like:

American Institute of Floral Designers (www.aifd.org).

Society of American Florists (www.safnow.org).

American Floral Endowment (www.endowment.org).

Floral Design around the Globe.

We set out to create a timeline of the changes in floral designs. Here, you'll find a short yet detailed play by play of how floral design developed throughout history.

Let's see how designs transformed from rigid to imaginative styles!

Egyptian Period (2800 - 28 BC).

Ancient Egyptians used flowers for temple offerings. They also arranged them in centerpieces for banquet tables.

They were also fond of flashing their wealth. One way to do that was weaving blooms like jasmine and violets into garlands.

These comprised of a single flower with a couple of leaves on both sides. This simple repeating pattern created an attractive design for their feasts.

Greek Period (600 - 150 BC).

Much like the Egyptians, the Greeks used flowers in religious rites. They crafted blooms into garlands, wreaths, and laurels.

Cornucopias also became a standard in festive activities. The Greeks often used triangular forms for their creations. They featured white blossoms as a symbol of purity.

Roman Period (28 BC - 325 AD).

Romans kept the Greeks' use of flowers in their customs and practices. In fact, they created much more ornate designs of wreaths and ceremonial crowns.

It was also during this time that people began to take note of different floral scents. This then became an important factor in making flower arrangements.

Byzantine Period (320-600 AD).

People in the Byzantine Era borrowed from Greek and Roman styles. But they were the first to mix fruits with flowers in wreaths.

They also styled greens in vases to create harmony. For pleasing color palettes, they accented warm shades with cool hues.

Middle Ages (476-1400 AD).

The presence of flowers in art waned during this era. They only showed up in tapestries. This led to the creation of a line of cloths called millefleur. This translated to "thousand flowers".

Monks in Europe kept floral design alive. They tended to their gardens to increase varieties of flowers and foliage. These would act as the focus of many art forms later in history.

Renaissance Period (1400-1600).

Oriental styles and the stress on balance inspired many Renaissance artists. They included fruits and foliage in crafting harmonious floral designs.

This led to the creation of now well-known Christmas wreaths. Renaissance artists were also fond of flowers en masse in their floral arrangements.

Baroque (Flemish) Period (1600-1775).

Baroque painters were the ones who set patterns in floral designs. (At least, the ones we still see today). Floristry by then was not yet considered an art form.

Because of this, flowers of diverse colors and sizes were often coupled together. This was a way for the artist to express themselves. They also favored tall flowers and oval shapes in arrangements.

Artists from the Flemish period also began leaning more towards uneven designs. They used wild accessories like birds' nests and eggs in their works.

French Period (1600-1814).

This period saw a distinct divide in the styles of floral arrangement.

Subtle, arc-shaped designs dominated the Baroque period and Rococo. Simple, triangular shapes were the styles of periods under King Louis XVI.

Early American Period (1620-1720).

Early American florists took after French Empire and English Georgian style. They arranged flowers en masse with different colors to decorate their homes.

English Georgian Period (1714-1760).

Floral design in this era usually consisted of a simple bunch of blossoms in a vase.

Later on, they engaged in more elaborate designs. They even built vases for holding flowers at particular angles.

Colonial Williamsburg Period (1740-1780).

This era gave room for creativity and the arts, including floral arrangements. Artists assembled foliage with light feathers and grasses into fan shapes. They finished it off with striking blooms at the center.

Victorian Period (1837-1901).

During this time, floral design became even more lavish. It often consisted of overflowing flowers and foliage.

Circular shapes became the standard. They also acclaimed roses as Europe's favorite. Lilies, tulips, and other common garden flowers complemented the center roses.

American Victorian Period (1820-1920).

America's Victorian period leaned towards deep colors. Colors like royal purple, ocean blue, and magenta were among their favorites. They often used white blooms to tone down the look. They also went on creating vases for holding flowers.

Modern/ Contemporary Period (1890-Present).

Modern floral design started as a change from Victorian design. It borrows from the Oriental focus on lines. But it also blends this with en masse arrangements from Western styles.

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