<I>Wire frame, Masonic emblem</I>
{"id": "ld1-1642011376834-1642011377337-0", "version": "", "unitCode": "HAC", "linkedId": "", "type": "edanmdm", "content": {"descriptiveNonRepeating": {"record_ID": "hac_1980.036.020", "online_media": {"mediaCount": 1, "media": [{"thumbnail": "https://ids.si.edu/ids/deliveryService?id=SG-1980-036-020_001", "idsId": "SG-1980-036-020_001", "usage": {"access": "CC0"}, "guid": "http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/re6352b37ab-856b-4110-90ec-9fc6196232f4", "type": "Images", "content": "https://ids.si.edu/ids/deliveryService?id=SG-1980-036-020_001", "resources": [{"label": "High-resolution TIFF", "url": "https://ids.si.edu/ids/download?id=SG-1980-036-020_001.tif", "width": 7241, "height": 7256}, {"width": 7241, "height": 7256, "label": "High-resolution JPEG", "url": "https://ids.si.edu/ids/download?id=SG-1980-036-020_001.jpg", "dimensions": "7241x7256"}, {"label": "Screen Image", "url": "https://ids.si.edu/ids/download?id=SG-1980-036-020_001_screen"}, {"label": "Thumbnail Image", "url": "https://ids.si.edu/ids/download?id=SG-1980-036-020_001_thumb"}]}]}, "unit_code": "HAC", "title_sort": "<I>WIRE FRAME, MASONIC EMBLEM</I>", "guid": "http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/aq4a61c2f2d-7748-48fa-b409-843c54878b5d", "title": {"label": "Title", "content": "<I>Wire frame, Masonic emblem</I>"}, "metadata_usage": {"access": "CC0"}, "data_source": "Smithsonian Gardens"}, "indexedStructured": {"date": ["1940s", "1860s"], "topic": ["Funerary objects", "Frame components", "Floral designers", "Floral decorations", "Floral frames", "Wire", "Associations", "Floral Accessories", "Secret societies", "Rites and ceremonies", "Decorations", "Wirework", "Funeral rites and ceremonies", "Flower arrangement", "Emblems"], "online_media_type": ["Images"]}, "freetext": {"setName": [{"label": "See more items in", "content": "Horticultural Artifacts Collection"}], "date": [{"label": "Date", "content": "ca. 1860-1940"}, {"label": "Period", "content": "Victorian (1837-1901)"}], "identifier": [{"label": "Accession number", "content": "1980.036.020"}], "notes": [{"label": "Description", "content": "It was common for social or business organizations to send flowers to the funerals of deceased members in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. Flowers were sent by friendly and fraternal societies, temperance leagues, social clubs, veteran\u00e2\u0080\u0099s organization, and worker\u00e2\u0080\u0099s unions, among others. The floral tributes were often set pieces patterned after the emblem of the organization or club with flowers and ribbons in their colors. Designs had to be recognizable, thus accuracy was important for the florist, each flower frame must be made to an exact shape and carefully arranged with flowers in the appropriate colors. Depending on the size of the floral recreation, elements might be added or subtracted while maintaining an accurate overall impression of the emblem. In addition to the organization\u00e2\u0080\u0099s emblem recreated on flower frames, many of their other symbols, or assemblages of multiple symbols were recreated out of wire frames for floral arrangements. Emblem set pieces were also used for organizational functions other than just funerals, such as private ceremonies or special events sponsored by the group. Organizational emblem frames often comprised a significant portion of floral frame trade catalogs. Freemason emblems were the most frequently ordered flower frame designs from the florist. Freemasonry is the oldest and most influential fraternal society in the United States. Also known as the Masons, this society came to the United States in 1720, and many of America\u00e2\u0080\u0099s founding fathers were brothers in this fraternity. The mid-nineteenth-century Mason could also belong to many different auxiliary organizations such as the Knights Templars, the Shriners, and the Order of the Eastern Star each of which had flower frames representing their insignia. It was also the largest fraternal body in America and remains so to this day. The primary emblem of the Masons was the square and compass, said to be symbolic of the interaction between mind and matter, inside of which is the letter G, symbolic of either God or geometry. Additional designs for the Masonic ceremonies and funerals included the Maltese cross, Keystone, Masonic Bible, banner, and scroll of honor."}, {"label": "Description", "content": "Freemason emblems were the most frequently ordered flower frame designs from the florist. Freemasonry is the oldest and most influential fraternal society in the United States. Also known as the Masons, this society came to the United States in 1720, and many of America\u00e2\u0080\u0099s founding fathers were brothers in this fraternity. The mid-nineteenth-century Mason could also belong to many different auxiliary organizations such as the Knights Templars, the Shriners, and the Order of the Eastern Star each of which had flower frames representing their insignia. It was also the largest fraternal body in America and remains so to this day. The primary emblem of the Masons was the square and compass, said to be symbolic of the interaction between mind and matter, inside of which is the letter G, symbolic of either God or geometry. Additional designs for the Masonic ceremonies and funerals included the Maltese cross, Keystone, Masonic Bible, banner, and scroll of honor."}, {"label": "Label Text", "content": "Set pieces or set designs were among the most popular floral arrangements in the second half of the nineteenth century. The term set piece is a usually applied to designs in a wide variety of forms, which are often symbolic in character. Shapes that expressed an overall theme for an occasion were very fashionable, such as designs made to depict the profession, associations, or hobbies of an individual. These flower arrangements were ordered for special celebrations, holidays, weddings, and funerals. Typical of the Victorian style, these designs were elaborate and massive, but unlike other forms of flower arrangement, the set piece was exclusively made by the professional florist."}, {"label": "Label Text", "content": "Set pieces were usually made up on wire frames in the desired shape, which acted as a foundation for the floral arrangement. Commercially produced, heavy-gaged wire frames, fabricated from either plain or copper-plated wire, became available for flower arrangements between 1860 and 1864. The retail florist business was enhanced considerably by the high demand for arrangements on flower frames in the nineteenth century, and wire frames quickly became the basis of the retail florist\u00e2\u0080\u0099s inventory. The frames could be obtained for little cost to the florist, and if he managed to retrieve the skeleton after the occasion, it could be reused. Wire frames came in both straight and curved outlines and either as a box (three-dimensional frame) or flat frame. Most designs came in several sizes and could be hung or placed on a stand or were free-standing. Standard forms in wire works catalogues ranged in size from 10 to 60 inches. Outside of the standard frame designs offered in wireworks and florist\u00e2\u0080\u0099s supplies catalogues, designs could be made for almost any occasion, with some large enough to make life-sized reproductions."}, {"label": "Label Text", "content": "Over the course of the nineteenth and twentieth century floral fashions changed. Some set pieces faded in popularity by the early 1900s, but some remained favorites well into the 1940\u00e2\u0080\u0099s. Many of these same designs are still used today, but the wire frames have been replaced by shapes made from more modern materials to save the florists\u00e2\u0080\u0099 time in making up the arrangement, as well as providing water to the flowers allowing for greater longevity."}], "creditLine": [{"label": "Credit Line", "content": "Smithsonian Gardens, Horticultural Artifacts Collection."}], "topic": [{"label": "Topic", "content": "emblems (symbols)"}, {"label": "Topic", "content": "Floral frames"}, {"label": "Topic", "content": "frame components"}, {"label": "Topic", "content": "wire"}, {"label": "Topic", "content": "associations"}, {"label": "Topic", "content": "ceremonies"}, {"label": "Topic", "content": "decorations"}, {"label": "Topic", "content": "Floral Accessories"}, {"label": "Topic", "content": "Floral decorations"}, {"label": "Topic", "content": "floral designers"}, {"label": "Topic", "content": "Flower arrangement"}, {"label": "Topic", "content": "funerals"}, {"label": "Topic", "content": "funerary objects"}, {"label": "Topic", "content": "secret societies"}, {"label": "Topic", "content": "societies"}, {"label": "Topic", "content": "symbols"}, {"label": "Topic", "content": "wirework"}], "physicalDescription": [{"label": "Medium", "content": "Wire"}, {"label": "Dimensions", "content": "16 \u00c3\u0097 16 \u00c3\u0097 4 in. (40.6 \u00c3\u0097 40.6 \u00c3\u0097 10.2 cm)"}], "dataSource": [{"label": "Data Source", "content": "Smithsonian Gardens"}], "objectRights": [{"label": "Restrictions & Rights", "content": "CC0"}], "objectType": [{"label": "Type", "content": "Floral frames"}]}}, "url": "edanmdm:hac_1980.036.020", "hash": "724e7bf5a9c244c4bd74037c74c09693e45e5b9e", "docSignature": "40872b54414925f0981df40442f3be94", "timestamp": 1658328038, "lastTimeUpdated": 1653682105, "title": "<I>Wire frame, Masonic emblem</I>"}