At last it’s time to get the house ready for the festive season ahead and yes it has to include my large collection of Constance Spry style mantle vases.
When she was unable to find the vases she wanted, visionary Bohemian florist Constance Spry commissioned The Fulham Pottery to create a collection of her designs. These were based on her sketches of the Roman, Greek and Phoenician vessels she saw in Tunisia while holidaying with her artist lover Gluck. The vases were perfect for her loose asymmetric flower arrangements with their wide boat shape and splayed foot. The most popular designs of these unconventional vessels were copied and reproduced for the mass market in the British potteries. Perfect for making a bold statement, add style to any interior with the cool and classic shapes of Constance Spry style vases.
The signature style of floral designer Constance Spry is visually extravagant yet thrifty of purse a style that fits well with the festive season. From the 30s into the 60s the Avant Garde florist dominated British floristry bringing her innovative approach to the flowers of royalty and high society. Her teachings and floristry books reflect her democratic vision elevating her to an icon for housewives hungry for her thrift and clever design style. Her book ‘A millionaire for a few pence’ reflects her teaching that something original and stylish can be created for next to nothing.
Increasingly contemporary floral designers are moving away from imported flowers, and they have adopted the concept of thoughtful flowers. As it was in the past they are embracing the sustainable trend of home grown flowers rather than imported, choosing to source seasonal and local flowers. Rest assured even the simplest of arrangements of British grown flowers can be stunning and impactful, generous groups of seasonal flowering plants will carry you well into to the new year. Pack low Constance Spry style vases with flowering plants like cyclamen with their pretty marbled leaves and their sweet perfume. A simple sheath of amaryllis combined with pussy willow and the last brave twirls of clematis shooting out of a large ewer will be long lasting while making a spectacular statement.
For a continuously evolving seasonal display generously fill a classic Constance Spry style mantle vase with a carpet of moss then stud with seasonal bulbs. When the blooms begin to shoot up, add gnarly twigs to support the stems ready for flowering. Hanging miniature vintage glass bottles are ideal for holding fresh berries and fragrant fresh flowers grown from bulbs. Then bling up the twinkle with a crowd of candlesticks and simple white candles.
For a more flamboyant style follow Constance Spry example and seek inspiration from still life compositions of the Dutch Masters. The rich sensual layering of texture, exotica and colour, are perfect for a vintage Christmas. Known for plundering her clients cupboards and attics for suitable vessels the economy in creating a scheme like this lies in the adaptable ethos that a mismatched collection of vintage is good. Follow suit and gather together a collection of vintage vessels to hold jewel like collections of sweets, fruit, nuts and glass decanter of cordials to decorate your festive table. At the centre place a Constance Spry style vase filled with a generous collection of flowers and foliage. Choose flowers in large bunches and bright colours, lilies and chrysanthemums are plentiful, add in hedgerow foliage with seasonal holly and ivy. A dramatic collection of candlesticks with a bold harlequin collection of coloured candles will bring more sparkle. Keep thinking outside the box, design a series of vignettes, for a stunning centrepiece, at its simplest, fill a Constance Spry style gondola vase with a tumble of seasonal fruits with citrus and bay leaves not forgetting a bright jingle of gold doubloons.
@amandarusselldesign
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If you like this post check out my posts on Simple Styling Tips Using Plants, Constance Spry Vases for Everyone and Styling your Dartmouth Flower Urns.