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Brief History of Floral Arrangements and Design

With changing times, styles and trends have come and gone.

But flower arrangements have consistently expressed our love for nature. They've played a huge part in our appreciation of life's beauty!

Each vivid creation is a work of art! It gives rise to a bright, pleasant ambience wherever it's placed.

But where did flower arrangements emerge? Whose idea was it to place flowers with each other and for what goal? What did flowers mean to people in the olden days?

How did styles in floral design evolve as time went on? What caused these changes?

Today, we'll address all these questions. We'll get a quick but intriguing look into the fantastic history of flower arrangements!

Ancient Times

The earliest records of floral design go back to 2500-2600 BCE in Ancient Egypt. Historical experts found that Egyptians were the first to artistically place flowers in a vase.

They were often used for feasts and religious ceremonials. Ancient Egyptians also used them to revere the dead in burials and processions.

Lotus flowers are frequently acknowledged as the most important flowers of that era. Egyptians believed they were sacred to the goddess Isis. In Egyptian art, men and women were often shown holding lotus flowers in their hands.

The same attitudes towards the religious symbolisms of flowers were discovered in Ancient China. Confucians, Buddhists, and Taoists set cut blooms on altars.

Florists were held in high regard and given immense respect. Ancient Chinese art also painted flowers on vases, scrolls, and carvings.

Flowers and leaves were also often put together based on what meanings they kept. Peonies represented wealth and good fortune. This is why they are famously known and revered as the 'king of flowers'.

Tiger lilies and orchids represented fertility. Pear and peach trees embodied long and bountiful lives.

In Ancient Greece and Rome, flowers were mainly used for lavish decor in a show of wealth. They weaved flowers and foliage into wreaths for joyful festivities.

Their love of flowers is well-known. Blooms were often illustrated in art and written into myths.

Wreaths also marked the celebration of victories. In Ancient Greece, they rewarded wreaths to champions of the early Olympic games. This tradition continues to this day.

They also enjoyed artistry and innovation with flowers. Historians say that the very first mixed flower arrangement was from the Romans.

Middle Ages

The Byzantines carried on with the floral designs of the Roman empire. They placed more attention on perfect proportion and sleek looks.

They adopted garland-making as well. But they created their own twist on it by adding fruit and foliage, crafting tree-like designs.

Gold and jewel tones were prevalent during this era. Favored flowers included carnations, cypress, daisies, and lilies.

From My Modern Met

After the Roman empire fell, there was an artistic decline in the Middle Ages. Sadly, this included floral design.

Monks were the only ones to carry on with the art of floristry, using florals in sacred places. Inspired by Oriental styles, they often placed their flowers in Chinese vases.

Renaissance

The Renaissance era saw a spirited resurgence of art and culture. This meant people found a new appreciation for beauty and life in all forms. Italians were the first to convey their new zest for artistry in floristry.

Full, lavish flower arrangements were displayed in feasts. Others began to add them as decor for homes and churches.

Renaissance floral design was often interested in pure beauty and symmetry. Bright and bold color triads were in vogue, crafted with arc, ellipse, and triangle shapes. Flowers were also often paired with different sorts of fruits and vegetables.

These were placed in a range of containers, from bowls to baskets to vases. But they were all fashioned to conceal the stems and only feature the blooms.

People of this era also added special meanings to flowers, like love, purity, and virtue. Among the most popular flowers then were carnations, daisies, irises, lilies, marigolds, and violets.

Victorian Era

Affluence, luxury, courtesy-- these were the distinct traits of the Victorian Era.

Flower arrangements became a means to display wealth and good breeding. This is why they became extremely lavish and extravagant. Luxurious homes had ornate vases teeming with gorgeous masses of flowers.

Ladies were trained on the art of floral design as a part of their upbringing. It was also at this time that floral design was officially taught and studied as a form of art.

Floral designs in the Victorian era set itself apart from other periods. People then weren't all that interested in symmetry, consistency, or color palettes.

They were more involved with how many flowers were in a vase, rather than with how they looked. Bouquets were compact and overflowing

Rich, heavy hues like purples, blues, reds, and browns were in style for floral design. Flowers were usually arranged in a round shape. Foliage and herbs were put in for added aroma and texture.

Roses, tulips, carnations, baby's breath, and lilacs were amongst the most popular flowers.

20th Century

Attention to floral design piqued in the USA in the 1930s. It was then acknowledged to have its own set of rules by the Women's Garden Club.

Traditional designs were concerned with making clean, harmonious arrangements. They offered texture and depth but only followed a specific design pattern.

Later on, free style became more trendy. With no strict patterns, there was more leeway to explore several color palettes, rhythms, sizes, and plant materials.

There were more natural styles that integrated rocks, branches, and greens. Japanese influences were also featured, marked by simplicity and openness.

Today, trends in floral designs continue to progress! Now, there are limitless choices for floral design that take in everyone's distinct tastes and style!

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