This September, Featherstone Flowers was honoured to be commissioned by Fleurs de Villes to create a stunning floral mannequin for The Grand Stonehenge Dahlia Show. Our brief was to bring to life a Victorian lady, and we embraced the challenge with a nod to history and creativity.
The event, set in the iconic landscape of Stonehenge, transports visitors back to the Victorian era when dahlia shows were the highlight of the social calendar. During the 1840s, these vibrant shows drew crowds of thousands, with competitions showcasing remarkable floral sculptures and prize-winning dahlias. It was a spectacle of colour and craftsmanship, a tradition that continues to inspire floral artistry today.
A Victorian Lady, Reimagined
Our floral mannequin, displayed outside the exhibition centre, is a tribute to this rich heritage. Her creation was truly a team effort, taking us the better part of a week to craft. The skirt and bonnet were shaped from chicken wire and draped in hessian, adorned with dried flowers to echo the textures of the era. Her shawl, a labour of love, is a delicate calico piece meticulously covered in thousands of honesty seed pods, each carefully peeled and trimmed by hand. This intricate detail brings a soft, translucent glow, adding an elegant touch to the finished design. Her collar was created from tiny pieces of limonium, thlaspi, statice and helichrysum petals, carefully edged by flax seed pods, designed to feel like a delicate lace collar.
The mannequin stands amidst a breathtaking floral meadow, designed to complement her vintage attire. It’s a striking display, blending the beauty of local blooms with the historical significance of the event. All flowers and foliage were sourced directly from the Featherstone's flower field.
A Celebration of Dahlia Shows, Then and Now
The Grand Stonehenge Dahlia Show is not just a look back at Victorian traditions—it’s a celebration of floral artistry today. Visitors are invited to wander through a variety of spectacular displays, including additional mannequins created by flower clubs, all inspired by the Victorian era. You can also experience the dahlia meadow, a vibrant display of these much-loved flowers, perfect for snapping a few photos or simply enjoying the abundance of blooms.
More Than Just Flowers
The event offers more than just floral displays. Visitors can step further into the past by meeting Time Will Tell Theatre's Victorian characters, who will be roaming the site between 10:30 and 17:30 each day. If you’re feeling creative, try your hand at Victorian photography techniques by creating your own cyanotype dahlia prints—a beautiful keepsake of your visit.
Featherstone Flowers’ mannequin, along with another masterpiece by Fig & Bramble, was featured in a photoshoot amidst the historic stones. The setting provided the perfect backdrop for these floral tributes, blending natural beauty with human creativity in one of England’s most iconic landscapes.
We do hope that you are able to visit this weekend. For more information visit the website. The show is open from 27th September 09.30 until Sunday 29th.
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