Why is Floral Design Important?

Warm-up: List as many reasons as you can

describing why you think Floral Design is important.• Celebrate an

occasion• Create art

• Symbolize emotions

• Add aesthetics

• Show thoughtfulness

• Others??

History of Floral Design

By: Mrs. Sheffield

Objectives

Identify the impact of various civilizations on Floral Design.

Analyze various periods in floral design history.

Understand the importance of floral history

Egyptian Period (2800-28 B.C) Royal families

were enthusiastic plant collectors

Flowers used: water lilies lotus roses violets narcissus jasmine

Egyptian Period (cont.)

Flowers considered sacred Symbolized Gods / Goddesses

Blossoms of lotus/water lilies were placed in elaborate vases, bowls, jars that were gold, silver or glass

Used baskets of fruits and flowers to decorate a table before a feast.

Egyptian Period (cont.)

Wore chaplets (garlands/wreaths) on their heads

Garlands made of petals, buds, leaves

2nd per. 9/2

Egyptian Style (cont.)

Clear and simple

Used colors of red, yellow, and blue

Used lots of repetition (types, color, heights of flowers for pattern)

Greek Period (600-146 B.C.)

Greeks did not arrange their flowers in vases or bouquets

Flowers scattered on the ground for ceremonies and festivities

Flowers primarily used for garlands & wreaths

Wreaths presented to athletes for victory/dedication

Greek Period (cont.)

Flowers were worn in hair for personal decoration and beauty

Greeks grew potted plants indoors and in hothouses

Greeks were first to have professional florists who did floral work for people

3rd per. 9/2

Greek Period (cont.)

Cornucopia (Horn of Plenty) Displayed vertically

Floral Designs limited by rituals and traditions

Each flower in a design symbolized a God or hero

Greek Period (cont.)

Graceful and simplistic

Color not important

Most important was flowers, fragrance, and symbolism

Chinese Period (500 B.C.–100 A.D.

Flowers and Plant Materials were used for decorating altars used in religious ceremonies performed by Buddhist Priests

Flowers also arranged in massive bronze ceremonial vessels

Chinese Period (cont.)

Confucius and his philosophies influenced Chinese designs

He utilized the art of contemplation and simplicity

Chinese Period (cont.)

Chinese only allowed to use cut flowers sparingly

Believed in the preservation of life

Only storm-broken branches and stems were utilized for ceremonies

Chinese Period (cont.)

Flowers given women’s names because of their femininity and fragile beauty

Winter- (white-blossomed plum)

Spring- (Peony) Summer- (Lotus) Fall-

(Chrysanthemum)

Arrangements were large, symmetrical and simple

Bright flower colors contrasted with the container used

Lighter flower colors positioned in the outer portions of the design--darker colors near the base

5th per. 9/2

Roman Period (28 B.C.-325 A.D.)

Continued Greek customs

Used roses at evening banquets and scattered these roses over the floor

Scarves filled with blossoms were offered at altars as part of religious ceremonies

Roman Period (cont.)

Garlands and wreaths more elaborate than those of Greeks

Flowers were arranged in a basket called “liknon”

Flowers in these arrangements were highly fragrant and brightly colored

Byzantine Period (320-600 A.D.)

After fall of Roman Empire, Roman traditions continued for a while by the Byzantine Culture

Greek/Roman styles used

Garlands now consisted of narrow bands of fruit and flowers alternated with foliage

Byzantine Period (cont.)

Introduced symmetrical, tree-style designs

Foliage arranged in containers to resemble symmetrical, conical trees

Byzantine (cont.)

Color schemes used were analogous, accented with a complementary color

Example: Varying hues of green, blue green, and blue accented with flowers or fruit that was red, red-orange, or orange

Middle Ages (476-1400 A.D.)

The Middle Ages occurred after the fall of the western Roman Empire

Flowers were not used much except for religious ceremonies and special occasions Middle Ages Li

nk

Middle Ages (cont.)

Start of Persian Art

portraits of flowers arranged in vases

Several color schemes used having an Oriental influence

2nd per. 9/3

Japanese Period (486 A.D.)

Japanese style of floral arranging became known as “IKEBANA”

Ikebana means “arrangement of living plant materials”

Ikebana became widely used in worldly and religious art

Japanese Style

Principles of Ikebana: Heaven= Shin Man= Soe Earth= Tai

Shin

SoeTai

3rd per. 9/3

Japanese Style (cont.)

Linear forms Straight, curved,

or angular lines of flowers and foliage

Renaissance Period (1400-1600 A.D.)

Began in Italy and spread through Europe

People began to take an interest in gardening

Extensive gardens were planted for beauty

Renaissance Period (cont.)

Floral Designs were large, tall, pyramidal, and symmetrically balanced

Arrangement was typically twice the height of the container

Bright flower colors were used Formal bouquets were tied

together to give away

Renaissance Period (cont.)

Flowers were preserved and dried in their natural colors

Flowers were buried in sand to draw out moisture

Baroque Period (1600-1775 A.D.) Arrangements began as

symmetrical, oval-shaped designs Later, asymmetrical curves in the

shape of an S or a crescent became popular

These designs were tall, and consisted of several different flower types and colors

Baroque Period (cont.)

Hogarth curve is still popular

5th per. 9/3

Flemish Period (1550-1750 A.D.)

Used a lot of proportion and were more compact than the Baroque styles

Tulips were used abundantly in the designs

Flemish were the first to combine the mass designs of the Romans and the line designs of the Orient

Flemish Period (cont.)

Flemish never physically arranged flowers into designs---instead, they painted pictures of floral designs

It is believed that the floral arrangements in the Flemish paintings never really existed Thought that they derived from the

imaginations of the artists. WHY?

Flemish Period (cont.)

The flowers that were in the paintings did not grow at the same times during the year

English Georgian Period (1714-1760 A.D.)

Floral designs have moved away from formality and symmetry

Flowers used to construct neck and hair pieces for fashionable women

Nosegay bouquets designs were carried

English Georgian Period (cont.)

Nosegays were first carried by men in England

As two men would meet and shake hands to greet one another, they would extend the nosegay

English Georgian Period (cont.)

Small nosegay-style bouquets (tuzzy-muzzy’s) placed in bowls

Table centerpieces for formal & informal events

In the home, tuzzy-muzzy’s placed to keep away germs and diseases

Woman carried tuzzy-muzzy’s that held concealed smelling saltsdue to tightly cinched bustles

Tuzzy-Muzzy

Victorian Period (1820-1914 A.D.)

Floral designs were very poor during this time period, but were very fashionable

They were improperly proportioned, large flowers cramped into a container

Designs were usually asymmetrical with no focal point

3rd per. 9/4

Modern American Period (1917-Present)

WWI brought end to the Victorian period of design

Corsages became popular as “gift” to soldier that was returning

2nd per. 9/4

Division of American Styles Early American

Wildflowers, grains, grasses in jugs, pitchers

Colonial (1714-1780) Massed, rounded, fan-shaped

Neoclassic (1790-1825) French-influenced; fan, pyramidal

Greek Revival (1825-1845) Final phase of neoclassical Large, symmetrical, lavish

Division of American Styles (cont.)

American Victorian (1845-1900) Copied European style

Art Nouveau (1890-1910) Creative, curved lines of nature Containers curved also

Art Deco (1920’s – 1930’s) Blending of Egyptian, Aztec, jazz, new

industrial

Division of American Styles (cont.)

Free Form (1950’s) Modern, natural, linear

Geometric Mass (1960’s – 1970’s) Combine line and mass Very tight geometrical shapes

Contemporary (1980’s – present)

Questions?