American Traditional 1901-1950
With the rise of the garden club movement, flower shows began to be held and the judging of arrangements
began. Using the best from the Old European Masters and the classical style of the Japanese, flower
arrangement began to merge into the mass‐line arrangements of this period. Designs were organized according
to rules, styles, or previously executed ideas or patterns. These classic designs were based on geometric shapes
including ovals, crescents, spirals, triangles, the Hogarth curve, zigzags or other geometric forms. These designs
have one center of interest near the center axis where all lines converge, but no crossed lines are evident.
Graceful rhythm, created by gradation of line, texture, color and flower form, is characteristic of these designs.
Traditional designs are designs in space with enclosed spaces of little importance. All traditional designs must be
finished on the back and have depth. Beauty, unity, and harmony are achieved by creative selection of plant
materials. There is little or no abstraction; plant materials are used in a naturalistic way.