Tulips are gorgeous flowers that herald the arrival of spring. In most areas, the #tulips bursting into bloom is a sign that spring has finally arrived to stay. Traditionally thought to have originated in Holland, the tulip’s history actually dates back to the Turks as early as 1000AD - the word “tulip” actually stems from the Turkish word for “turban” (tulipan). It wasn’t until the 16th century that #tulipmania began when the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire popularized the blooms; subsequently, the tulip became associated with power and wealth. If you want a more in depth history of the tulip, check out these posts:
In the late 16th century, the Netherlands caught #tulipmania and a single bulb could go as high as the price of a home there! Export of bulbs to Europe (thought to have been popularized by Queen Mary II) was outrageously expensive and only the wealthiest of families could afford to indulge. Obviously something so precious needed a special vessel in which to grow and display them. Enter the Dutch solution of the tulipiere (sounds like tu-lah-pee-air, but you have to use your best French accent!). Typical of Dutch vessels, the originals were in their hand-crafted #Delftware pottery style and often in the blue and white patterns we’ve come to recognize.
As with most great stories, there is disagreement as to whether the #tulipiere was designed to hold the bulb with the each individual spout offering space for a bloom or if each spout was intended to hold a singular cut bloom. If you dig around, you can usually find both types, but I warn you that it can be a very expensive item to collect with some prices stretching well into the thousands.
The tulipiere comes in a variety of styles, but typically have multiple stacking pieces so that each piece can be a reservoir for the blooms placed in its spouts. To arrange it, you begin at the bottom and fill the section with water and arrange blooms into each spout. Once complete, you add the next section and repeat the process until your piece is complete. No longer reserved only for tulips, they’re gorgeous with any type of bloom you can imagine. *swoon*
One of my favorite things about these stunning accent pieces is that they can blend seamlessly into any decor style. While the above blends nicely with #grandmillenial and classic décor styles, the below shows a soft addition to complement a #moodymaximalist or #hollywoodregency style.
Don't feel bad if you've never heard of these, I only stumbled on them quite by accident last year. In my research, I discovered that there are several different vessel styles available (both vintage/antique and modern!) and I'm pleased to show you a few from real ladies in a couple of facebook groups I follow ( ladies who clearly knew about these gems long before I did!). They have graciously agreed to be included here for your viewing pleasure. (My sincerest of thanks to each of you ladies!)
In a similar stacking style, Deborah Ann Hrubesh mixes it up to show us more than tulips. From the mantle to an al fresco dining adventure, this stunner makes an impact. (Scroll through the gallery to see all the images.)
The next style we see is often referred to as a five-finger vessel because of it's five individual spouts arranged similarly to fingers on a hand.
The artichoke style featured next can be found in both vintage and modern, with modern pricing usually being pretty reasonable.
I love this style shared by Danielle Preston as it has a lovely unique shape. She treasures this piece as it was a wedding gift *swooning again*.
And the pièce de résistance is this Cantagalli tulipiere from the late 1800’s shared by Claire Medley. Claire sourced a PAIR of these beauties at an estate sale (and they probably should have cost a small fortune – she is a lucky lady!). (Scroll through the gallery to see all the images.)
So, now that you're in love with tulipieres, you'd probably like to know where you can source them, too. As I mentioned earlier, these can be incredibly expensive to collect, but there is hope! The Enchanted Home is the most affordable that I've found as a source for high quality, new, hand-painted options. Tina, founder of The Enchanted Home, actually designed her line because she was seeking an affordable option for her own home. Her collection is hand-painted in China and as such, her shipments sell out quickly and there may be months before they're made available again. As of this morning, they had them in stock and they are actually part of their porcelain sale for the next 3 days!
For some, the price point may still be a bit high, so I encourage you to keep an eye out on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, estate/yard sales, and other thrifty kinds of places - there are deals to be found (just ask Claire...ha!). If you're searching online spaces, remember that not everyone will know what these are called and may use descriptions such as vase, flower frog, floral frog, tulip vase, or other very vague language. While they may be harder to find that way, you can pretty much guarantee that they'll be at a lower price point!
I actually have three small versions that I acquired while waiting on mine to arrive. I won't post these to my website because I want them to go to the approximately three of you that read my blog posts! :-) To claim them, just drop me a comment below and tell me which of them you want (details at the end of this blog post). (Update: I just discovered you have to “subscribe” to the blog to leave comments…I’d love to have you join and I promise not to spam you!)
Thank you so much for reading - I appreciate you so much! If you have a tulipiere or you acquire one after reading this, I'd LOVE for you to share your pics with the The Faded Belle community on whatever social media platform you prefer - use the hashtag #thefadedbelletulipiere if you'd like!
We're on Facebook and Instagram as The Faded Belle and if you don't already, we'd love to have you give us a follow! You can also read our other blog posts and shop our vintage boutique on our website - we'd love to have you subscribe to stay up-to-date on the latest and greatest!
Oh, and in case no one has told you today, your home is beautiful and so are you!
xo,
Michelle
(Slideshow) Modern Artichoke Style; light blue; like new condition; $45 + shipping
(Slideshow) Vintage Estate Sale Find; Delftware; hand-painted; one small chip on one spout; otherwise, excellent vintage condition; $35 + shipping.
So funny story, this one barely qualifies as a tulipiere. The lighting in the store was such that I didn't realize that the two "arm" spouts didn't go all the way into the container. They're shallow, but they're still there. Modern. I’m going to GIVE THIS ONE AWAY to someone who comments on this blog post by 8pm CST on Sunday, April 24, 2022! ❤️ (Update: please “subscribe” to my blog below to leave comments - I promise never to spam you!)
So cool! I love all of these!
Love the elegance of these pieces ❤️
Hi Michelle! you have the most beautiful flower frog collection; they are breathtaking. I have one small flower frog, but i bought it with a chip. I still love my frog. Lol