Henry Ward Beecher 1813-1887: "Flowers have an expression of countenance as much as me or animals. Some seem to smile, some have a sad expression, some are pensive and diffident, others again are plain, honest and upright“ When I look at into my world of antiques you can‘t help but notice the huge part flowers play in design and decoration. In some ways just a single stylised tulip head can give me an idea who designed or made the piece. Others times it is so part of the style of the artist/designer you know where the piece has been made, which country and by who. A great example is Charles Rennie Mackintosh that stylised rose to me just tells me one thing. Scottish School and the great man himself.

Art and nature go hand in hand. You can’t be indifferent to the natural world and love art. It is one of the links which makes us human - the ability to take the magnificence of nature and use its influence to make and design objects of pure beauty.

There is a great deal of symbolism when it comes to flowers in art, and this in my opinion, really adds an interesting dimension when buying floral paintings and collectables. Flowers provide a story behind the image which can be related to anything including faith, attitudes to sexuality, power and knowledge. For example, for Christians the flower is a symbol of chastity, whilst for the Greeks flowers are eblems of spring and new life. Even as early as in 17th Century Holland, the flower was an emblem of political influence, and of man's mastery of his physical environment.

To provide you with an illustration, this very famous painting by Sir John Everett Millais’, who was a Pre-Raphaelite artist, clearly uses references in floral symbolism. Titled “Ophelia” (c1851) it depicts a calm, drowning Ophelia surrounded by several flowers all which have various meanings; Poppies = Death, Daisies = Innocence, Roses = Youth, Violets = Faithfulness & Early Death, and pansies = Love in Vain.

One of the most famous and expensive paintings (still life normally has a lower value in the art world) is Van Gogh’s Sunflowers. Sunflowers had a special significance for Van Gogh and he made seven versions of them. Yellow, for him, was an emblem of happiness – in Dutch literature, the sunflower was a symbol of devotion and loyalty. In their various stages of decay, these flowers also remind us of the cycle of life and death.

Along with paintings, we see an extensive use of floral decoration in the applied and decorative arts. Examples of porcelain, glass, metalwares such as bronzes and furniture really show our love for flower embellishment.

One of the widest pottery collecting areas is that of Stafford-based Moorcroft that was founded in 1897 as James Mcintyre & Co – a partnership between James Mcintyre and designer William Moorcroft. Moorcroft set up his own business in 1913 producing personalised pottery each piece marked with his signature or initials. Moorcroft leads the world of art pottery producing display plates, vases, pin dishes, lamp-bases and jars, and its distinctive design style is extremely popular with collectors around the world. Today the patterns still show the design influences from the early days coupled with the advances in colouring techniques.

sold by SAS for £180 with red roses meaning love, and three modern Moorcroft Fangipani items meaning shelter / protection and sold for £130)

If you have any antiques and collectables you’d like to get valued don’t forget we hold free valuation days every Wednesday at 81 Greenham Business Park, Newbury RG19 6HW.

Please telephone 01635 580 595 to arrange an appointment.

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