1. History of Floral Design

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

3. Significance of flowers
Used throughout civilization
Religious significance
Personal adornment
Addition of beauty to dwellings

4. Significance of Flowers
Special Occasions
Symbols of love, friendship, sympathy and celebration
Language of flowers
Red roses symbolize and communicate love.

5. Why Know the History of Floral Design?
To understand the impact of earlier cultures on modern design styles.
To see the derivation of design styles
To be able to create arrangements depicting historical style or design period.

6. 4 Major periods of history
Classical
European
Oriental
American

7. Classical Period of Floral Design
Byzantine Period
Egyptian Period
Greek Period
Middle Ages
Roman Period

8. Egyptian Period (2800-28 B.C.) Styles were simple and orderly
Regimented rows and repetition of identical floral groups created patterned designs.
Primary colors dominated.

9. Greek Period (600-146 B.c.) 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.

10. Greek Period Potted plants were grown indoors to supply flowers
Professional florists were hired to create wreaths and decorations
Cornucopia was a symbol of abundance and was used in an upright position.
Grace, simplicity and symbolism characterized the Greek design.

11. Roman Period (28 BC-325 AD) 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)

12. Byzantine Period (320-600 AC)
Continued Roman designs
Garlands were twisted narrow bands of fruit, flowers, and foliage.
Color schemes used neighboring hues with complementary accents.

13. Middle ages (476-1400 AD) Flowers arranged in vases
Little known about floral designs of this period
Information found in Persian art, rugs, and tapestries.

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

15. Renaissance Period (1400-1600)
Arrangements were large, tall, pyramidal and symmetrically balanced
Arrangement was twice the height of container
Flowers were loose, airy and uncrowded

16. Baroque and Flemish Style Period (1600-1775 AD)
Symmetrical oval shaped designs
Hogarthian curve or S-Curve developed this period

17. Flemish Style
Flemish artists painted floral arrangements, refining Baroque style
Better proportioned and more compact
Flowers were massed into oval shaped arrangements taller than their container

18. French Tradition Influenced European, English and American Styles
Influenced by Baroque art
Feminine appeal
Arrangements were bouquets with no design or center of interest.
Topiary designs were introduced

19. English Georgian Period (1714-1760)
Moved away from formality and symmetry
Nosegay was a hand-held bouquet developed at this time
Nosegays were placed in bowls of water on tables as centerpieces

20. Victorian Period (1820-1901) Floral designs were poorly proportioned
Large masses of flowers with no focal point crowded into containers

21. History of Oriental Style
Japanese Style
Chinese Style

22. Chinese Styles 500BC-100AD
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 were used

23. Japanese styles
Adopted Chinese style in 6th century and created their own highly refined art form
Ikenobo school of floral art created the style known as Ikebana
Characterized by linear forms and open spaces

24. American Floral Design Periods
Early American Period
American Federal Period
Contemporary Styles

25. Early American Period
Household utensils (kettles, pitchers, pans, etc.) and baskets were used as containers
Materials for arrangements were wildflowers, dried flowers and grasses
Designs were informal and massed

26. American Federal Period (1780-1820)
Influenced by French Styles
Stressed individual beauty of flowers
Flower height was greater than width of arrangement

27. Modern American (late 1800’s – Present)
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
Individualistic, unique designs