It is speculated that people have been replicating their surrounding world of plants and flowers ever since Man walked the Earth. Artifacts found in ancient caves include flower replicas made from wood shavings, stones and even human hair.
Early Egyptians replicated leaves and flowers using thin plates of horn stained with different colorful dyes. They also made accurate models from copper, silver and a variety of materials coated with a thin layer of gold. These replicas were formed into wreaths which adorned their heads during the most celebrative events. Romans were masters at replicating flowers in wax, but also made floral wreath crowns out of their wealth of gold and silver. Floral wreaths and other creations were highly prized.
Silk flower arrangements became a business commodity in the 1100’s when Italians began to master the art of using the cocoons of silkworms to form floral replicas, coloring them with dyes, and selling the beautifully soft models of flowers. Business competition crept up hard during the 1300’s when the French continued to improve both the quality of the silk fabric and the quality of the art of realistically replicating flowers. There is a story about Marie Antoinette, in 1775, being presented with a silk rosebud so perfectly realistic that it caused her to faint.
Many French artisans later brought their craft with them to England and by the 1800’s English settlers were crafting silk flowers in America.
During the Victorian Era, 1837 to 1901, fresh and silk flower arrangements adorned tables and mantels with magnificent style and flair. Flowers were such an intricate part of culture and society that understanding the special language of flowers was as important to people as being well dressed. From apple blossom to zinnia, the meaning of each flower and the way it was presented spoke volumes. A flower was worth a thousand words.
Through the 1900’s to present day, fabric flower replicas have been made from many materials including cotton, nylon stockings, paper, sateen, and the now most popular polyester. Experimentation continues and some of the most ultra-realistic looking and ultra-realistic feeling fake flowers are actually composed of chemical composites such as polyurethane, latex, polyvinyl chloride and even more advanced polymers.
“Silk flower arrangements” is an accepted generic term referring to fabric as well as the “real feeling” polymer type plants. Materials used and skills of the artisans have both increased in quality to the point that silk flower arrangements are often mingled with their fresh counterparts in order to enhance displays, provide event keepsakes, and for numerous other reasons.
Although evolution has seen countless changes, the common thread throughout time is that each silk flower arrangement is a work of art.
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