Floral Sculpture Arrangements

EVERLASTING! FLORAL SCULPTURE
For many years I have wanted to just have fun arranging my handsculpted flowers, but have not taken the time to do it. So after I dropped off my work for the Creature Comforts group show at CEG....I took a month to start 5 floral sculptures. I should be getting the numerous sculptures ready for a Nocturnal show later in 2026 but couldn't help but stray from the schedule.

With so many flower pieces created over the winter I have a big selection to choose from. Ranunculus, peonies, anenomes, poppy, blackberries, apple blossoms, acorns, pears, cherries, snowberries, blackberries, mulberries, rugosa roses, lithanthius and more. Foliage in ivy, poppy leaves, branches, geraniums, clover and more. And of course I will have to add insects: bees, flies, snails, spiders, butterflies, moths, yellow jackets....

TRADITIONAL PORCELAIN FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS
For hundreds of years there have been elaborate floral sculptures, usually for the very rich and displayed in great houses or palaces around the world. I posted the one below as an extreme example of a porcelain bouquet. I cannot imagine how much work this one was!
Entire factories came about in Germany and China to create these wonders. Meissen in Germany, Capodimonte in Italy are just a few.
I imagine these works were in lieu of fresh flowers in winter months or just extravagant shows of wealth. And perhaps It allowed one to mix flowers from areas far away or unavailable into one bouquet. I like that aspect for my own work as well.
My favorite thing was adding the final touches, tiny tidbits like fruit, cocoons, and flying insects!

BACK TO MY OWN ATTEMPT AT FLORAL ARANGING IN PORCELAIN... I researched shapes I like for vases and then carefully selected a few samples in antique stores last month. I adore the one to the left. A jardiniere of sorts. So I started with that one as inspiration.
The first sculpture is started! You can see in the pic farther below- just the copper pieces braised together, at about 170 pieces so far.