Rattan funeral baskets were common elements in Victorian funerary practices, serving as decorative frameworks for floral displays that conveyed symbolic messages of mourning, respect, and remembrance. Victorian mourning practices placed a strong emphasis on visual symbols of grief and these baskets were part of a broader cultural emphasis on elaborate mourning customs.
The floral language of the time (floriography), was carefully considered in these displays. Flowers such as lilies symbolized purity, roses conveyed love and sorrow, and forget-me-nots expressed remembrance. The ornate, white-painted wicker frames held these arrangements during services, processions, and grave-side ceremonies, reinforcing the visual narrative of the community’s respect for the deceased.
In the coming weeks, I’ll be crafting period-accurate dried floral arrangements to accompany each of these baskets, honoring their historical significance and the stories they carry.
For now each is available for purchase “as is”.
