Fantastic Garland 159/6 Vase

Shakespeare is one of the greatest and most versatile writers the world has ever seen. His eyes were always open to the beauties of nature and he had a gift of describing what he saw in a way few others could. In His plays, poems and sonnets he named 180 different plants but as he was not a botanist, he mostly used old English words such as daisy, or marigold.

In Hamlet, Shakespeare’s Gertrude says “they were fantastic garlands did she come with” and as Ophelia’s madness occurs in early summer, although the violets are “all withered”, she could pick in abundance fennel, columbines, daisies and pansies.

There’s Rosemary, that’s for remembrance; pray you love remember, and there is pansies, that’s for thoughts. There’s fennel for you, and columbines: there’s rue for you and here’s some for me: we may call it herb of grace o’ Sundays. There’s a daisy, I would give you some violets, but they wither’d all when my father died.
Ophelia - Hamlet Act 4 Scene 5

Fennel was one of the plants listed in fifteenth-century manuscripts as being essential in gardens. The plant was emblematical of cajolery or flattery, and was used as such in Ophelia’s speech. Ophelia associates pansies with thought, most likely due to the English word ‘pansy’ being derived from the French pensée meaning thought. Senior Designer, Rachel Bishop’s, Fantastic Garland vase, embodies many of these floral motifs that Ophelia recalls, creating a Shakespearian bouquet full of symbolism and colour.

Ex Tax: £491.67

• Designer: Rachel Bishop
• Dimensions: H 15.50 x W 7.50 x D 7.50 cm
• Availability: Please allow up to 4 weeks for delivery