The Language of Flowers at Nybelwyck Hall: Spring 2022
To celebrate the long-awaited Spring season ahead, I've partnered with several very talented floral miniaturists to help adorn some of the rooms at Nybelwyck Hall, the fantastical miniature manse in the permanent collection at The Hudson River Museum in Yonkers, New York.
Nybelwyck Hall is the extraordinary 26-room dollhouse built over a 10-year period starting in 1990 by Mark O’Banks (1956-2002). Along with the miniature home, Mark created the story of the Van Nybelwycks, a fictitious family occupying the home, during the Victorian period in the Hudson Valley region of New York.
To set the scene, The Van Nybelwyck family is about to celebrate the engagement of Celestine, the daughter of Old Bostwyck, the family patriarch, to Roderick. Drama ensues as Celestine plans to profess her love for Tosca, her music teacher, and elope with him.
Each floral arrangement for the show was carefully curated, created specifically for or chosen from the D. Thomas Miniatures Collection with “The Language of Flowers” in mind, the popular “bible” used during the Victorian era to help guide which flowers to choose in arrangements by providing meaning and symbolism for the occasions.
Yellow Roses and Blue Hyacinths in a glass vase by Maria C. from Dollhouse Miniature Flowers (Spain) takes center stage in the Great Center Hall and represents the hopes, dreams and good wishes for all of the inhabitants of Nybelwyck Hall, both past and present.
Pink and White Peonies in a tall white vase with a gold rim by Christina Hampe (Germany) placed on the dining room table in the Golden Dining Room, where dinner will be served to celebrate the engagement of Celestine and Roderick. The flowers represent Love, Honor, Happiness, Wealth, Romance and Beauty and the good wishes that family and friends have for the newly engaged couple.
An assortment of white and pink Peony with large green leaves in a white vase by Olesya Arnyscheva from Miniature Clay Flowers (Russia), positioned on a plaster column at the front of the Golden Dining Room and help to extend additional good wishes to the bride and groom in celebration of their engagement and upcoming nuptials.
Glass vase filled with a bouquet of daisies, carnations and pink anthuriums by unknown artist (D. Thomas Miniatures Collection) atop the sideboard in the Golden Dining Room symbolize hospitality as the guests are invited into the home for the engagement celebration as well as the anticipation and excitement of the pending nuptials.
Glass mason jar with dandelions by Olesya Arnyscheva from Miniature Clay Flowers (Russia) sits atop the kitchen table expressing hope, love and happiness as well as the commitment and care Mrs. Griggs, the family housekeeper has for the couple and the entire family as she prepares the meal for the celebration.
Fuller Teaser, pink and white carnations and Artubus Branch in square glass vase by Yevheniia Kudriavtseva from Floral Decor Minis (Russia) are atop the fireplace mantle in the Zuber Living Room. The red carnation represents a broken heart Roderick will experience when he finds out that Celestine would rather marry Tosca, and the Fuller Teasel signifies Tosca, Celestine's one true love.
Star Gazers in a marble urn with gold embellishment by Sandra Henry and Vince Stapleton (D. Thomas Miniatures Collection) atop a wood column in the Zuber Living Room refer to innocence and purity and a tribute to the many children who fill the Nybelwyck home with joy and youthfulness.
Rose bouquet wrapped with a crimson ribbon by Yevheniia Kudriavtseva from Floral Decor Minis (Russia) is placed besides a tiny flute and mandolin in the music room and symbolize Roderick's love for Celestine and his bride to be.
Arrangement of Jasmine in Asian-inspired hand-painted vase atop ornate gold embellished marble column (artist unknown), part of the D. Thomas Miniature Collection is featured in the corner of the Gothic Library on the first floor, where Old Bostwyck , Nybelwyck's patriarch, spends much of his time. This arrangements symbolizes hospitality which Old Bostwyck is known for as he opens his home to friends and family but also sensuality, which refers to thoughts around his first wife who he has lost.
Red and yellow Tulips in glass vase wrapped with a red bow by Olesya Arnyscheva from Miniature Clay Flowers (Russia) sits on the dresser in Celestine's bedroom and represents the passion, dedication and love Celestine has for her true love, Tosca, with whom she plans to elope.
Yellow and pink roses with Eucalyptus in tall bucket decorated with a graphic pattern by Kristina Lavrinaytis from Wermut Art Dolls (Russia) are atop the glass table in the Scherherazade Sitting Room on the second floor and represents strength, protection and abundance, and an acknowledgement of Old Bostwyck's care for his family and how he provides those who fill the Nybelwyck Hall home.
Bouquet of pink and coral Roses with stems wrapped in white satin by Patio Escondito (Spain) appear on the floor in the Nook on the upper level of the home and reflects love, happiness and innocence, all of which was lost by Glencora, after being jilted at the alter by her finance.
Assortment of pink Roses in fluted glass bowl on the dresser in Nana Cinquefoil's Bedroom on the third level mean joy, gratitude, happiness and the love, joy and fulfillment she receives as care giver for the Van Nybelwyck children. Artist unknown from the D. Thomas Miniatures Collection.
The Spring mini flower show will be on view at the Glenview, the Victorian Mansion on the campus of the Hudson River Museum through May 2020. Check the museum website for more details.
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Until Next Time Thank you for being a part of the
D. Thomas Miniatures Community!
