History of Floral Design
Why is History Important?
 Helps designer have a better
understanding of the origins of floral
designs used today.
May have to create a design to
complement a certain time period.
Two Original Styles
Occidental Style – evolved in
Egyptian and Middle Eastern Cultures;
further developed by the Europeans
Oriental-Began in China; later
explored by Japanese
Egyptian Period
 2800-28BC
 arranged separate rows of
different colored flowers in
shallow bowls
Egyptian Period
 Wore garlands or wreaths of
flowers on their heads
Ancient Greeks
 600-146 BC
 Did not arrange flowers in
vases, scattered blossoms on
tables and on the streets
Ancient Greeks
 Garland and wreaths worn
during special occasions.
 Presented as awards to
athletes, statesmen and
soldiers.
Ancient Greeks
 First to have professional
florist
 The cornucopia (horn or
plenty) was first introduced by
the Greek culture
Romans
 28 BC - 325 AD
 scatter roses on banquet tables and
on the floor
 began arranging in a basket called
a liknon
Byzantine Period
 320-600 AD
 introduced symmetrical, treestyle designs
 flowers and fruit were used at
regular intervals throughout
design
Middle Ages
 476-1600 AD
 very little is known about floral
designs of this time period
except what Persian art portrays
Renaissance
 1400-1600 AD
 designs were large, tall,
pyramidal, and symmetrically
balanced
Renaissance
 flower arrangements were
loose, uncrowded and airy
 began to dry flowers by
burying them in clean, sundried sand
Baroque Period
 1600-1775 A.D.
 Adopted asymmetrical curves in
the shape of a crescent or an
“s”
 the Hogarthian curve is still
popular today
Flemish-style
 1550-1750 AD
 beautifully captured by Dutch
painters
 traditional baroque styles were
refined; not as loose and open
Flemish style
 Tulips were used abundantly
 first to combine mass designs of
Romans with line designs of the
Orient to form mass-line
designs
English Georgian period
 1714-1760 A.D.
 nosegay, or handheld bouquet
became stylish; carried by men
due to lack of deodorants
Georgian period
 small nosegay bouquets (tuzzymuzzies) placed in bowls were
the first use of table
centerpieces as we know them
today.
Victorian period
 1820-1914 A.D.
 Flowers were fashionable but
designs were rather
unappealing and poor
 usually asymmetrical with no
focal point.
Oriental Style-Chinese
 Used for decorating alters in
religious ceremonies performed
by Buddhist priests.
 Philosophies influencing these
designs were Confucius,
Buddhism, and symbolism that
developed as folklore.
Chinese
 Four season were usually
portrayed by white-blossomed
plum in the winter, the peony in
spring, the lotus in summer, and
mums in fall.
Oriental Style-Japanese
 Japanese priest named Ikenabo
refined the art.
 Began the first school of floral
art in Japan which bears his
name.
Oriental Style
 Name later changed to Ikebana
which means “giving life to the
flowers” or “arrangement of
living plant material”.