In the last article, we learned about the history of flower arrangements. We looked at the stories behind the names of flowers.
We also found out how societies used flowers in their daily lives. From there, we learned how floristry came to be the high-profit industry that it is now.
Here, we'll explore how floral design progressed from ancient to modern-day styles. We'll go through each important period in history. We'll track developments 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 arrive at its contemporary forms today.
Interested in a formal course? Want to get certified as a flower expert? Check out business 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 through history.
Let's see how designs transformed from rigid to creative styles!
Ancient Egyptians used flowers for temple offerings. They also set them in centerpieces for banquet tables.
They were also keen on showing off their wealth. One way to do that was weaving blossoms like jasmine and violets into wreaths.
These consisted of a single flower with one or two leaves on both sides. This basic repeating pattern created an elegant design for their feasts.
Much like the Egyptians, the Greeks used flowers in religious customs. They wove blossoms into garlands, wreaths, and laurels.
Cornucopias also became a staple in festive activities. The Greeks often used triangular styles for their creations. They featured white blossoms as a symbol of purity.
Romans carried on with the Greeks' use of flowers in their customs and traditions. As a matter of fact, they created much more ornate designs of wreaths and ceremonial crowns.
It was also during this time that people started to make note of diverse floral scents. This then became an essential factor in making flower arrangements.
People in the Byzantine Era borrowed from Greek and Roman styles. But they were the first to mix fruits with flowers in garlands.
They also styled greens in vases to create harmony. For charming color schemes, they accented warm tones with cool hues.
The presence of florals in art died down during this era. They only appeared in tapestries. This led to the creation of a line of cloths called millefleur. This translated to "thousand flowers".
Monks all around Europe kept floral design alive. They tended to their gardens to increase varieties of flowers and foliage. These would act as the subject of many art forms later on in history.
Oriental styles and the stress on balance inspired many Renaissance artists. They featured 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 painters were the ones who set trends in floral designs. (At least, the ones we continue to see today). Floristry by then was not yet viewed as an art form.
As such, flowers of various colors and sizes were often paired together. This was a way for the artist to express themselves. They also preferred tall flowers and oval shapes in arrangements.
Artists from the Flemish period also started leaning more towards uneven designs. They used wild ornaments like birds' nests and eggs in their works.
This period saw a distinct divide in the styles of floral arrangement.
Elegant, arc-shaped designs dominated the Baroque period and Rococo. Simple, triangular shapes were the styles of times under King Louis XVI.
Early American florists copied French Empire and English Georgian style. They set flowers en masse with various colors to adorn their homes.
Floral design during this era usually consisted of a simple bunch of flowers in a vase.
Later on, they took on more elaborate designs. They even created vases for keeping flowers at certain angles.
This era gave room for creativity and the arts, including floral arrangements. Artists put together foliage with fine feathers and grasses into fan shapes. They finished it off with stunning blossoms at the center.
During this time, floral design became much more lavish. It often comprised of overflowing blossoms and foliage.
Round shapes became the norm. They also acclaimed roses as Europe's ideal. Lilies, tulips, and other popular garden flowers complemented the center roses.
America's Victorian period leaned towards deep colors. Hues like royal purple, ocean blue, and magenta were among their favorites. They often used white blossoms to soften the look. They also carried on with creating vases for holding flowers.
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.
Click here for our next article about the History of the Tradition of Flower Giving