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How did Victorian flower arrangements differ from Rococo bouquets?
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Floral decoration
An eternal bouquet for the dead, limestone relief from Egypt, 4th century bce; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.
Victorian flower arrangements differed significantly from the earlier Rococo style in both scale and composition.
While Rococo bouquets were characterized by their delicate coloring, lighter visual weight, and smaller sizeâdesigned to suit the intimate rooms of 18th-century French townhousesâVictorian arrangements favored a different aesthetic.1
Key differences include:
- Density and Form: Victorian arrangements were typically designed as tightly compact masses of flowers, greens, grasses, and ferns, whereas Rococo bouquets were more personal and charming in their smaller, lighter scale.12
- Color Palette: Victorian groupings often utilized brilliant hues and strong color contrasts, which were distinct from the more delicate color schemes of the Rococo period.12
- Materials and Setting: The Victorian era benefited from the Industrial Revolution, which provided a wide variety of affordable ceramic and glass containers, such as the two-level epergne. Additionally, the 19th century saw the introduction of many exotic plant species via clipper ships, expanding the palette of materials available to Victorian arrangers compared to their 18th-century predecessors.2