History of Floral History of Floral DesignDesign

Floral Design

Mrs. Jennifer Crutchfield

Why is it important to Why is it important to understand history of floral understand history of floral

design?design?• To understand how designs from historical

periods influence contemporary designs.

• What will you learn?

• Be able to identify origins of floral designs.

• Identify characteristics of mass, line-mass and line designs in history.

How were flowers used through How were flowers used through out history?out history?

• Used by people to:

• Express their feelings

• Enhance their surroundings

• Commemorate important rituals and observances.

• Personal Adornment

History Reveals Two Different History Reveals Two Different Styles of Flowers.Styles of Flowers.

• European or Occidental Style- Started in Egypt and was later developed by Europeans• Oriental Style- Started in China and later

developed by the Japanese

Oriental StyleOriental Style

Usually large and symmetrical with one or two types of foliage and flowers placed around a central branch.

Lightest colors were used at outer portions of design, darker ones kept nearest the base.

Oriental Style- Line Oriental Style- Line ArrangementsArrangements

Oriental styles emphasized simplicity, containing few flowers and conservative colors, and, as they emphasized lines instead of masses, are known as 'Line Arrangements'.

Oriental StyleOriental Style

• Name later changed to Ikebana which means “giving life to the flowers.”

Oriental StyleOriental StyleCharacterized by minimum use of plant material and careful placement of branches and flowers.

Each placement and angle has meaning.

This type of arrangement became known as “line arrangement”

Oriental StyleOriental Style

European StyleEuropean StyleThe European style arrangements from which we borrowed were filled with large numbers of flowers rich in various colors, and are referred to as 'Mass Arrangements'.

European StyleEuropean Style

European European StyleStyle

Generally large, round or oval mass of flowers

Flower placement is not rigidly dictated as in oriental design

Floral Designs in European Floral Designs in European Periods How did the Mass Style Periods How did the Mass Style Flower Arrangement Evolve?Flower Arrangement Evolve?

• Middle Ages-

• Renaissance

• Baroque

• French

• English-Georgian

• Victorian

Middle AgesMiddle Ages• Not much is known about floral design

• This is the period between the ancient and modern times in European history

• 476 to 1450 AD

• Flowers were an important part of life– Used for

• Medicine• Air fresheners flower petals put on ground and walked on

to freshen air.• Wreaths and Garlands• Personal Adornment• Decorations

RenaissanceRenaissance

Period in Europe after Middle Ages

Flowers are often shown in vases in paintings.

Great emphasis is placed on flower meaning

Mass of flowers

Rarely see the stems

Each flower does stand out

Patterned after the clasical greek and roman Styles

Baroque PeriodBaroque Period

Era following Era following the Renaissance the Renaissance in Europein EuropeArt is no longer just for the church or nobility, it is now accessible to the middle class

Paintings show arrangements in everyday settings

Many interiors were overdecorated and gaudy

Designs became more creative and expressive

French Period French Period (17th & 18th (17th & 18th century France)century France)

Also known as the “Grand Era”

Associated with the courtly life

Emphasis was on classic design, refinement, and elegance

Designs were often fan shaped and massed

English-Georgian PeriodEnglish-Georgian Period(18th century England)(18th century England)

• Named for English Kings George I, II, & III• Fragrance was very important in flower selection

because it was thought to rid disease• English created the nosegay to safeguard from illness• Flowers became part of fashion in hair, around necks,

and in décolletage• Arrangements were formal & symmetrical• Often used Nosegay to smell because of bad smells of

self and others.

NosegayNosegay

Many times the nosegay was given as a gift as each flower had a meaning.

You can easily make a nosegay from items from your yard.

Victorian EraVictorian Era

• Named for Queen Victoria who reigned in England from 1837 to 1901

• Victorian interiors were lavishly decorated in heavy colors and patterns

Victorian Era: Design Victorian Era: Design CharacteristicsCharacteristics

• Time of great enthusiasm about flowers; floral design was taught and recognized as art

• First attempt to establish rules for floral arranging

• Described as grouping large masses of flowers, foliage, and grasses together to create a design with no center of interest

• Usually round or oval shaped arrangements

Victorian Era CharacteristicsVictorian Era CharacteristicsTwo or Three Tiered Flower Arrangements.

Tight mass of flowers with foliage around edges.

History History influence on influence on today’s floral today’s floral

designdesign..American floral design uses more materials than the Oriental but far fewer than the European

US floral design is often built around linear patterns, showing the Oriental influence.

Historical Historical influence on influence on today’s floral today’s floral design.design.

Most floral designs in the US are referred to as “line mass” and combine Oriental and European ideas

Student Activity:Student Activity:1. Select pictures of

European, Oriental, and American Floral Designs find at least three pictures of each type of design, label each picture with the type of design that it represents **Remember to also label if the design is a line design, mass design, or a line mass design. Tape the picture on a piece of white printer paper.

2. You may choose to used pictures from interior, home furninshing magazines or the internet.

Flower Arrangement Flower Arrangement ActivityActivity

• http://www.ubloom.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=309&Itemid=152

You will be creating an Oriental Style Line Flower Arrangement.

Make a list of the items you will need:

1/3 piece of floral foam

Low bowl or small desert plate

Floral tape

2 Branches (any type)

10 large Leaves they can be the same as the Leaves From the Branch or they can be hosta leaves, canna lilly.

3 Flowers with a large head. You can use Zinia, Carnation, Crepe Myrtal Blooms, Roses

Please try to find flowers in and around your school or yard(Any Found flower will work for this arrangement)

Quiz:Quiz:

• What are some practical reasons for knowing the history of floral art?

• What are some reasons for changing design styles across time?

• What are some floral traditions of ancient civilizations?

• How did European traditions influence American design?

QuizQuiz

• Explain how the oriental and European floral design styles have influenced the types of flower shop arrangements sold today.

• What are the two historical types of floral design?

• How are the two types of floral design different in their looks?

• Name your favorite period of floral design.