Plant-Lore

Collecting the folklore and uses of plants

Blooming Marvellous

Posted on by royvickery |

Chertsey, Surrey, Museum has an exhibition Blooming Marvellous: Flowers in Fashion until 3 September 2022.  Largely derived from the Olive Matthews (1887-1979) collection, the exhibition features garments and accessories from the 1700s to the 2000s.

One case is devoted to the symbolism of flowers:

‘During the nineteenth century the concept of flower symbolism took a more romantic guise.  The “Language of Flowers” gained popularity amongst certain sections of society.  Called “Floriography”, it appealed to a culture which tended to shy away from open displays of emotion …  Most women of the upper levels of 19th and early 20th century society would have been familiar with at least some floral symbolism.’

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