1. History of Floral Design

2. Objectives… To become familiar with the history of floral design.
To understand the origin and development of different styles.

3. Where do we see evidence of floral design in historical situations?
Think About It…
Where do we see evidence of floral design in historical situations?

4. Significance of Flowers…
Used throughout civilization
Religious significance
Personal adornment
Addition of beauty to dwellings

5. Significance of Flowers…
Special Occasions
Symbols of love, friendship, sympathy, and celebration
Language of flowers

6. Why the History of Floral Design?
To be able to create arrangements depicting historical style or design period.
To understand the impact of earlier cultures on modern designs.

7. The Classical Period Byzantine Period Egyptian Period Greek Period
Middle Ages
Roman Period

8. Egyptian Period (2800-28 B.C.) Styles were simple and orderly
Wide-mouthed containers or bowls held flowers or fruit
Wire loops or holes around container rims held flower stems
Regimented rows and repetition of identical floral groups created patterned designs
Primary colors dominated

9. Greek Period ( B.C.)
Grace simplicity and symbolism characterized the Greek design
Did not arrange flowers in vases
Flowers were scattered on the ground for celebrations
Wreaths and garlands were worn or carried during special occasions
Heroes, athletes, and dignitaries were honored with wreaths
Potted plants were grown indoors to supply flowers

10. Roman Period (28 B.C. – 325 A.D.) Continued use of the Greek designs
Wreaths and garlands were more elaborate
Blossom filled scarves were placed on religious alters
Flowers were arranged in containers or likonons
Baskets with high backs and flattened fronts

11. Byzantine Period (320-600 A.D.)
Continued Roman designs
Garlands were twisted narrow bands of fruit, flowers, and foliage.
Introduced symmetrical stylized tree compositions
Elaborate containers had nearly pointed bases
Color schemes used neighboring hues with complementary accents.

12. Middle Ages (476 – 1400 A.D.) Flowers arranged in vases
Symmetrical groups in Chinese flasks show Chinese influence
Little known about floral designs of this period
Information found in Persian art, rugs, and tapestries

13. The European Periods of Floral Design
Renaissance Period
Baroque Period
Flemish Period
French Styles
English Georgian Period
Victorian Period

14. Renaissance Period (1400-1600)
Arrangements were large, tall, pyramidal and symmetrically balanced
Arrangements were twice the height of the container
Flowers were loose, airy, and not crowded
Bright colors contrasted with plastered walls

15. Baroque and Flemish Style Period (1600-1775 A.D.)
Classical Renaissance style gave way to the lavish Baroque Style
Baroque style originated in Italy and spread to Holland and Belgium
Symmetrical oval shaped designs
Hogarthian curve or S-Curve developed this period

16. Flemish Style…
Flemish artists painted floral arrangements which refined Baroque style
Better proportioned and more compact
Flowers were massed into oval shaped arrangements taller than their container
Many arrangements in paintings could not have existed because the flowers bloomed in different seasons

17. French Tradition Was influenced by Baroque art
Influenced European, English, and American styles
Feminine appeal
Topiary designs were introduced

18. English Georgian Period (1714-1760)
Moved away from formality and symmetry
Japanese influence affected design
Tuzzy-muzzy was a hand held bouquet at this time
Nosegays were placed in bowls of water on tables as centerpieces

19. Victorian Period (1820-1901) Floral designs were poorly proportioned
Large masses of flowers with no focal point would crowd containers
Too many colors and flower types created unplanted effect
Toward the end of the period, rules were established for floral design
Skilled designers established floral design at a professional art

20. History of Oriental Style…
Japanese Style
Chinese Style

21. Chinese Styles…
Floral arrangements originally used to decorate Buddhist temples
Large, symmetrical arrangements with central axis
Only one or two types of flowers and foliage used
Bright colors

22. Japanese Styles
Adopted Chinese style in the 6th century and created their own highly refined art form
Japanese styles are characterized by linear forms and open spaces.

23. American Floral Design Periods
Early American Period
Colonial Williamsburg Period
American Federal Period
Contemporary Styles

24. Early American Period…
Early colonists had little time for flower arranging
Household utensils were used as containers
Kettles, pitchers, pans, baskets etc.
Materials for arrangements were wildflowers, dried flowers and grasses
Designs were informal and massed

25. Colonial Williamsburg Period 1724 – 1780
Trade with Europe influenced floral designs
Many southern arrangements were copied from European prints and tapestries
Casual, open massed bouquets were common
Styles were fan shaped, rectangular or round
Visual weight concentrated at base of design

26. American Federal Period 1780-1820
Influenced by French Styles
Stressed individual beauty of flowers
Break from English styles
Flower height was greater than the width of arrangement
Gave way to ornate Victorian style

27. Modern American (Late 1800’s-Present)
Development of floral wire services in late 19th century established design catalogs
European mass designs were combined with Japanese line designs to create line mass designs
Advances in transportation and refrigeration influenced availability of cut flowers from local to world markets