Princess Grace's World of Flowers
Pressed flower art is a beautiful and timeless expression of creativity and preservation. There is something magical about the process of transforming something ephemeral like flowers into lasting works of art. Throughout history, capturing the natural beauty of flowers has been an artistic form that has also served as a therapeutic outlet for many people, including Princess Grace. Her affection for and connection to flowers has inspired many a floral pattern, and therefore flowers are an important element throughout the Grace de Monaco brand.
Pressed flower art was first popularized during the Victorian era, when flowers were used as symbols of love and admiration. In modern times, pressed flower art is embraced for its therapeutic benefits as much as its creative potential. This type of craft requires careful attention to detail. To achieve the desired results, it’s important to select the right kind of botanical material, drying technique and design. Each bloom must be meticulously arranged to create a cohesive composition. In other words, it is a craft that requires patience and precision, two of the many qualities that could easily describe Grace Kelly as an actress and later as a Princess.
Princess Grace was very passionate about flowers. This adoration led to her establishing the Monaco Garden Club to promote the art of arranging flowers, then her dried-flower collages were displayed at the Drouant Art Gallery in 1977, and she also co-authored “My Book of Flowers” in 1980. Read more about Princess Grace’s creative outlet in this Town & Country article that explores her secret life as an artist, and in this Grace Influential article that spotlights her remarkable floral-based artwork.
Creative Blooms
In 1966, Rodolfo Gucci wanted to produce a silk scarf with a print that encompassed Princess Grace’s elegance and her love of flowers. The result was the now legendary Flora motif.
In 1980, Springmaid released “GPK” (Grace Patricia Kelly) linens. Her pressed flower designs were transformed into bed linens, tablecloths, placemats, and napkins. Read more here.
Modern Design & Significance
From the moment she became the Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly was surrounded by flowers. Respectively, flowers became an integral part of the Grace de Monaco brand. The visual impact that flowers provide was used across all products in bold and subtle ways, through printing, screening, embossing, and casting techniques.
Starting with Promenade Sur Le Rocher, our premier fragrance, the bold rose is at the center of this modern, radiant, floral bouquet. Each bottle of parfum is adorned with a custom ceramic orchid charm inspired by one of Her most beloved flowers. The orchid is also a direct reference to Her son, Prince Albert II whose birth was celebrated with gifts of thousands of orchids arriving at the palace.
The Promenade Silk Scarf and Promenade Twilly depict a collage of flowers that reference the notes in our Promenade Sur Le Rocher fragrance. All Grace de Monaco Silk Scarves and Twillies feature floral motifs reminiscent of Princess Grace’s pressed flower art, elegantly conceived by designer Jérôme Faillant-Dumas.
The Grace de Monaco orchid is also delicately embossed on the Promenade Sur Le Rocher parfum packaging and sculpted into the ceramic vessel of each of our scented candles.
The Grace de Monaco porcelain fragrance diffuser is possibly the most artful representation of all that she held dear. Each of the three ceramic flowers represents one of her children, her greatest loves. The bouquet of flowers gently disperses fragrance, through an innovative ceramic casting process.
Knowing and understanding these nuances adds an extra layer of significance behind each of our designs. Creating products that directly reference her passions and purpose are essential to the brand. In My Book of Flowers, she wrote “Love of flowers has opened many doors for me.” Now through Grace de Monaco and The Princess Grace Foundation, as the Town & Country article so eloquently puts it, “...that love of flowers will continue to open doors for others.”
