Tulipieres and Flowerbricks

London Delft Chinoiserie - this piece is circa 1750.  I love this form and the look of this particular piece.  It was auctioned off at Christie's for $4000.

Pair of Delft Flowerbricks.  What we think of when we think Delft.

Tulipiere 'lotus' shape with crane decor - I like this shape.
Tulipiere Towers - While fairly uncommon in modernity, during the 17th century tulipieres were common pieces of decorative art that could often be found in the houses of European elites. After the advent of large-scale global trade in the 1600s, numerous flowers from Asia such as the tulip, crocus, and hyacinth became luxury items in Europe and these cut flowers remained an exotic novelty until the end of the 17th century. Large floor-standing pyramid-shaped tulipieres were particularly ornate and were used as a status symbol to indicate the owner's wealth.


Tulipiere - matching set, a modern recreation in the 18th Century style by The Federalist

Glass 'Tulipier' - I love this form; decidedly mid-century but modern and curvy.  Love it. 

Deb Schwartzkopf  - I love her form and shape and color! 

Kari Radasch - two ideas on the form; fun, light - it really reminds me of summer at my grandma & grandpa's house in Sonoma!  go figure.

Martina Lantin - Again, reminiscent of Deb's form - but bustier, looser. 
 
Ayumi Horie - original take.  I love these pieces that Ayumi made; I don't know if she is still making them. 
 
Tulipier - delft - weird form.  Can't decide if I like it or not.  It's a lot like a clunky tagine...from "the north"  :)
 
Paul Donnelly - love the modern edge, feel and design with the soft colors.  I'm a big fan of his work. 
 
 
 
Flowers as decoration has some very obscure beginnings - there is some evidence it was used decoratively and ritually in Ancient Egypt.  The Greeks and Romans also used 'arrangements' in more ritualistic ways.  The use of flowers simply for pleasure had it's start in the Renaissance - tied to the beginning's of commerce and exposure to flowers from other parts of the world, it became a sensation, flower 'pot' design and the elaborate way to display them followed.  Only the very wealthy had large flower arrangements for their enjoyment.  I don't know how it found it's way for the ordinary citizen...
 
Toying with the idea of making some flowerbricks.  I am very attracted to historical forms and the idea of their obscurity.