It was common for social or business organizations to send flowers to the funerals of deceased members in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. Flowers were sent by friendly and fraternal societies, temperance leagues, social clubs, veteran’s organization, and worker’s unions, among others. The floral tributes were often set pieces patterned after the emblem of the organization or club with flowers and ribbons in their colors. Designs had to be recognizable, thus accuracy was important for the florist, each flower frame must be made to an exact shape and carefully arranged with flowers in the appropriate colors. Depending on the size of the floral recreation, elements might be added or subtracted while maintaining an accurate overall impression of the emblem. In addition to the organization’s emblem recreated on flower frames, many of their other symbols, or assemblages of multiple symbols were recreated out of wire frames for floral arrangements. Emblem set pieces were also used for organizational functions other than just funerals, such as private ceremonies or special events sponsored by the group. Organizational emblem frames often comprised a significant portion of floral frame trade catalogs. The most fanciful fraternal flower frames are those belonging to the Benevolent Protective Order of the Elks (BPOE). The emblem of this order is an elk head surmounting a clock set to eleven o’clock. This time is sacred to the Elks, and at this time at any Elks ritual a special toast is read. Floral tributes to fallen Elks could be made in the form of the complete emblem, or the elk head or clock could be sent individually. The time on the clock flower frame is meant to signify the time of death, which the Elks set the hands at 11:00 a.m. because all good Elks die at 11. In its hey-day the Elks members numbered more than 1.5 million members. It is one of the largest “animal clubs”. Patriotism, public service, and caring for Elks fallen on hard times, are central to the mission of the Elks.
The most fanciful fraternal flower frames are those belonging to the Benevolent Protective Order of the Elks (BPOE). The emblem of this order is an elk head surmounting a clock set to eleven o’clock. This time is sacred to the Elks, and at this time at any Elks ritual a special toast is read. Floral tributes to fallen Elks could be made in the form of the complete emblem, or the elk head or clock could be sent individually. The time on the clock flower frame is meant to signify the time of death, which the Elks set the hands at 11:00 a.m. because all good Elks die at 11. In its hey-day the Elks members numbered more than 1.5 million members. It is one of the largest “animal clubs”. Patriotism, public service, and caring for Elks fallen on hard times, are central to the mission of the Elks.
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Set pieces or set designs were among the most popular floral arrangements in the second half of the nineteenth century. The term set piece is a usually applied to designs in a wide variety of forms, which are often symbolic in character. Shapes that expressed an overall theme for an occasion were very fashionable, such as designs made to depict the profession, associations, or hobbies of an individual. These flower arrangements were ordered for special celebrations, holidays, weddings, and funerals. Typical of the Victorian style, these designs were elaborate and massive, but unlike other forms of flower arrangement, the set piece was exclusively made by the professional florist.
Set pieces were usually made up on wire frames in the desired shape, which acted as a foundation for the floral arrangement. Commercially produced, heavy-gaged wire frames, fabricated from either plain or copper-plated wire, became available for flower arrangements between 1860 and 1864. The retail florist business was enhanced considerably by the high demand for arrangements on flower frames in the nineteenth century, and wire frames quickly became the basis of the retail florist’s inventory. The frames could be obtained for little cost to the florist, and if he managed to retrieve the skeleton after the occasion, it could be reused. Wire frames came in both straight and curved outlines and either as a box (three-dimensional frame) or flat frame. Most designs came in several sizes and could be hung or placed on a stand or were free-standing. Standard forms in wire works catalogues ranged in size from 10 to 60 inches. Outside of the standard frame designs offered in wireworks and florist’s supplies catalogues, designs could be made for almost any occasion, with some large enough to make life-sized reproductions.
Over the course of the nineteenth and twentieth century floral fashions changed. Some set pieces faded in popularity by the early 1900s, but some remained favorites well into the 1940’s. Many of these same designs are still used today, but the wire frames have been replaced by shapes made from more modern materials to save the florists’ time in making up the arrangement, as well as providing water to the flowers allowing for greater longevity.