Hi Everyone, my family was introduced to this very artistic, simplistic and beautifully natural flower containers a few years back from relatives in CO. So far I don't think these vases have hit the market wave within Wisconsin. I'm hoping you all can help me locate places/individuals, which retail/create these Ikebana right here in Wisconsin. When you come across them, could you please make reference of the information for everyone who loves elegant and simple flower arranging.
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Ikebana means “living flower”, or “bringing flowers to life”. It also was known as Kado, “the way of flowers”. It is an artistic form of flower arranging with a unique style that is different from the floral art of Western Countries.
Ikebana originated in sixth century Japan. It was part of a ritual offering in Buddhist Temples. In those floral arrangements, flowers and branches arranged in small Ikebana vases were made to point toward heaven as a sign of faith.
There are many schools of Ikebana flower arranging and many different Ikebana styles. It is a simple technique that focuses on balance, line and arrangement. It creates harmony with line and color. The west emphasizes symmetry, quantity and color of the flowers with the attention to the beauty of the blossoms. Ikebana stresses simplicity and asymmetry to reflect nature. This is why Ikebana vases tend to also reflect the same simple, clean design.
The structure of Ikebana flower arrangement stresses three elements: heaven, man and earth. Heaven is the primary stem and it is the central line of the arrangement. Man is the second stem and is two thirds the height of the primary stem. It is placed to the side of the primary stem. Earth is the shortest stem and it is placed on the opposite side of the man stem or in front of the primary steam. When properly placed these three flower stems appear as if they are growing from a single source. Using an odd number of flowers in your Ikebana flower arrangement arrangement creates balance and a natural flow.
An Ikebana arrangement incorporates not just the flowers but also the stems, leaves and branches. A simple but beautiful grouping can consist of a single flower framed by two leaves in a small Ikebana vase.
In the floral art of western countries, the Ikebana vase serves simply as a receptacle for the flowers. In Ikebana, the vase positions the grouping and its color and shape enhances the beauty of the arrangement.
Quote:
The Art of Japanese Flower Arrangements
Ikebana is the art of beautifully arranging
cut flowers, leaves and stems in vases and
bowls that evolved in Japan over seven
centuries.
The choice of what plants to arrange is guided
by the desire to create harmony between flower,
container and the surrounding environment.
Unlike western floral arrangements, Ikebana
uses as few plant stems as possible in
composing elegant contours that highlight
the natural beauty of flowers.
The most basic Ikebana arrangements are the
"Upright Styles" which uses shallow containers
with pin frogs or "kenzans" to secure the plants
in simple but beautiful arrangements.
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