Rose Antiques

"Roses" in Antiques
By Amy Babb

Roses have dominated the field of flowers ever since the dawn of civilization. Their floral dominance has also filtered into the antique world with such items being based on their design of woven petals and brilliant colors. The number of rose patterns on dinnerware, pottery, fine art, and glassware is absolutely astounding. Many categories of antiques have been emblazoned with the name “rose.” The following is a compilation of just a few of those rose-bearing antiques which demonstrate our infatuation with the flower.

ROSE BOWLS
Popular from the Victorian period until the Depression, rose bowls have become a popular “hot” collectible once again. They can be found in Burmese glass, satin glass, and many other quality glass types. Glass rose bowls have two defining factors: They are round in shape, and their tops have an unusual opening with several ruffles sloping inward. They were often used to hold rose petals to scent a room, much like potpourri. The ruffled edge facilitated the enclosure of loose petals, plus it was a distinctive accent. Also, some rose bowls were used to hold a floating rose. Once again, they are commonly found in satin glass form. Satin glass was developed in the late 1800s as a Victorian innovation. The matte finish of satin glass was created by a final acid wash that etched the surface. Applied surface decorations and silver additions can be found on satin glass rose bowls. They are in the same family as bride’s baskets, berry bowls, and vases... an imaginative luxury.

ROSE MEDALLION & ROSE CANTON
These two Chinese ceramics are sometimes confused with one another; however, they can be easily distinguished.
Rose Medallion is a Chinese ceramic made in the 1800s and 1900s as an export pottery, and both “newer” and “older” versions exist. Its design features very colorful weavings of flowers, , birds, butterflies, and people. Most Rose Medallion features different “panels” of art on the piece in which people are alternated with other creatures and flowers in scenes. Traditionally, there are four medallions with one central rose medallion. Yet, there is a wide variety of patterns and forms in rose medallion; therefore; you cannot think of rose medallion as a “matching set” or as matching at all.
Rose Canton is very similar except there are no people in the designs. The main colors are pinks and some greens with dashes of others. In contrast to Rose Canton, a piece of Rose Medallion with an emphasis on people (few flowers) is termed Rose Mandarin.

ROSE TAPESTRY
This porcelain hails from Tettau, Germany, courtesy of the Royal Bayreuth factory. Dating from the late 1800s, its surface is made by pressing the semi-wet porcelain body against a rough cloth texture. The result is a finely “woven” fabric effect —pretty clever once you think about it. Like many, many other ceramics, Rose Tapestry is emblazoned with roses as decor.

FAMILLE-ROSE
Another Chinese export pottery classification, Famille-rose first became very popular among the upper-crust ranks of Europe. Wealthy British families ordered large amounts of Chinese export pottery, especially dinner services and Armorial services with their family’s coat-of-arms. Famille-rose is known for its gold highlights and non-transparent coloring.
Created around 1720, Famille-rose incorporated opaque colors including an opaque pink for which the style is named. These opaque colors gave rise to new levels of shading and blending.
There are other “Famille’s,” but the key to Famille-rose is the opaque color. Famille rose means “pink family”. On the other hand, Famille verte means “green family.” Original famille verte wares are dominated by transparent green colors and were primarily made in the Kangxi period (1662-1772). Famille-rose wares are dominated by opaque pink colors, and they were developed after Famille verte. Incarnations of both have been made in modern times. Another important note to keep in mind is that these are trade names, names made up by collectors and people studying the art. When it comes to classification, there is no specific scientific method concerned.

ATTAR OF ROSE
Also known as “essence of rose,” this sophisticated oil is distilled from rose petals. Attar of rose is usually clear or yellow-tinted, and it is commonly derived from specific rose species. Attar of rose is not a modern essence, it has been distilled for centuries ––a true antique oil. This “essence of rose” is used in perfume making, scenting toiletries, liqueurs, and flavoring. Attar of rose is a very concentrated oil. For example, in the south of France one type of attar is made from centifolia roses. In this case it takes 250 pounds of rose petals to equal one ounce of “essence of rose.”

ROSE CUT DIAMOND
A rose cut diamond (or any other precious stone) exemplifies one of the earliest types of stone faceting. In history, the most simple rose cut came into common use in the 1500s. It wasn’t until the 1640s that a more advanced rose cut, the brilliant cut, was developed. A triple brilliant cut was developed near the end of the 1600s. The reign of the rose cut fell when modern technology allowed for advancements in the stone cutting and grinding field.

ROSE GOLD
Rose gold often turns up in antique and estate jewelry, but what is rose gold? Well, all gold is actually yellow in color. After all, 100% gold is an element. However, different alloys of gold present different colors. True gold is a rather soft element, and it needs to have an alloy of another metal(s) for strength. Traditionally, yellow gold jewelry is alloyed with silver and copper. White gold is often alloyed with palladium, zinc, and nickel. Rose gold is alloyed with a greater ratio of copper in the mixture, and it is the copper that produces the reddish color. Not all rose gold is old, as it is still being produced. Rose gold has also been called red gold and pink gold.

ROSEWOOD
The term rosewood actually refers to more than one species of tree. Various types of tropical woods produced in Brazil, Honduras, Africa, India, and Jamaica fall into this category of ornamental wood. While the trees may be different, they do feature these same qualities: They have a deep brown to almost purplish tone, have a rich, dark grain that is resinous, and they are difficult to work —but are worth the extra effort.
The use of rosewood has dramatically declined in modern times. The Brazilian heartwood tree, (genus Dalbergia of the family Leguminosae) was a major part of Brazil’s export economy approximately 300 years ago. Today, this fine tree is on the brink of extinction. It was once a prized wood for cabinetry and piano making. Other rosewoods are still used today in the production of guitars, violins, and xylophone bars.

ROSE AMBER GLASS
Rose Amber glass is the Mt. Washington Glass Company’s version of amberina glass. Amberina glass was presented by the New England Glass Company, and both glasses came onto the market around the same time. The two companies had a heated dispute over the glassware, but the dispute was resolved. Today, it appears that amberina won the battle, because rose amber glass has been classified as amberina glass.
Both amberina and rose amber glass have gold combined into the molten glass mixture. After the glass form had been blown, shaped, or molded, the entire body appeared yellow-amber in color. Succeeding this, one section of the piece was placed back near the furnace for reheating to facilitate the chemical reaction which produced the red coloring (gold reaction).
The Mt. Washington Glass Company worked together with the Pairpoint Mfg. Company in the late 1800s to produce silver and silver-plated items containing Mt. Washington glass, and many rose amber examples can be found in this “united” state.

ROSE QUARTZ
While many of us think of quartz as being an everyday, common stone; rose quartz has been prized for its simple beauty. Rose quartz has been collected and carved for centuries, and its color ranges from pale pink to richly blushed. Basically, rose quartz is like regular quartz except it has titanium for tinting and often has inclusions of rutile. These inclusions give rose quartz a milky coloring, and they can sometimes produce a slight star-shaped optical effect when the stone is polished (like star sapphires.) Mineable quantities of rose quartz can be found in Brazil, Sweden, Africa, Spain, and in the U.S. in California and Maine, to name a few. Rose quartz appears on some birthstone lists as January’s stone. It is also sometimes listed as the second anniversary gemstone.

ROSETTE
Rosette is really a “blanket” term for any circular or oval shaped ornament that has lines, leaves, or petals radiating out from the center. In ancient art, the rosette was a stylized interpretation of an open flower. For example, in ancient Egypt rosette designs were used to depict the look of an open lotus flower. Yet, as time pressed on and the rose itself became the world’s “international” flower, many rosettes were fashioned after the rose —plus the ornament took the rose’s name. Rosettes usually appear in the network of the Roman Corinthian column capitol. They can be found in medallions and most other Roman architectural accents... and that is only the beginning, because rosettes are everywhere.

ROSES IN HISTORY
The number of rose varieties and hybrids available to the world increases daily. Yet, few of us realize how ancient the rose really is, and I do mean ancient. In fact, the rose is believed to be the very first flower ever cultivated. One of the oldest examples of rose adoration comes from the 5th century in ancient Greece, where evidence shows the cultivation of roses. The Romans propagated roses widely, and with time the flower also appeared symbolically in ancient art. Greek and Roman mythology is riddled with references to the power of roses. Later, the rose is symbolically associated with the Church.
When the Moors invaded Spain, they brought many varieties of roses to Europe including the first yellow roses ever to grow on European soil. Chinese gardens from 1000 AD cultivated roses. During the Middle Ages, the rose was used widely for medicinal purposes and it was cultivated for these qualities. Of course, the rose has been used as a perfume base for centuries–– a practice that lives on today. The rose has an intricate history that follows along with the growth of nations, the fall of empires, and the crossing of seas. Here are a few more historical footnotes.
• There are well over 30,000 different varieties of roses. All of them originated from a small number of naturally wild species.
• Since November 20th, 1986, the national floral emblem of the U.S. has been the rose. The state flowers of New York, Georgia, Iowa, and North Dakota are all rose varieties.
• During World War II in Europe, rose hips were used as a source of vitamin C.
• It is said that George Washington was the first breeder of roses in the U.S.
• Cleopatra welcomed Marc Antony back to her with a room that was filled with rose petals... that is knee deep with rose petals!
• Both Queen Elizabeth and Princess Grace of Monaco have had roses named after them. The Queen Elizabeth rose was actually bred here in the U.S.. Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, and Herbert Hoover also have roses named after them.
• The wife of Napoleon I, Empress Josephine, is said to be the world’s first rosarian (one who studies and propagates rose species.) Their home, La Malmaison, once contained a garden with over 250 species of roses. Empress Josephine propelled the rose into garden fashion. Today, the gardens are in ruins.
• Sappho, an ancient Greek poetess, wrote the poem “Ode to the Rose” in which she was the first to proclaim the rose as “Queen of the Flowers.”
• While we often think of red roses as being the most common, there are actually more pink roses and rose varieties than red roses.
• The hybrid tea rose “Peace” was officially introduced to the world on August 29, 1945, the day Berlin fell to the Allied Powers.



		"Roses" in Antiques By Amy Babb Roses have dominated the field of flowers ever since the dawn of civilization. Their floral dominance has also filtered into the antique world with such items being based on their design of woven petals and brilliant colors. The number of rose patterns on dinnerware, pottery, fine art, and glassware is absolutely astounding. Many categories of antiques have been emblazoned with the name “rose.” The following is a compilation of just a few of those rose-bearing antiques which demonstrate our infatuation with the flower. ROSE BOWLS Popular from the Victorian period until the Depression, rose bowls have become a popular “hot” collectible once again. They can be found in Burmese glass, satin glass, and many other quality glass types. Glass rose bowls have two defining factors: They are round in shape, and their tops have an unusual opening with several ruffles sloping inward. They were often used to hold rose petals to scent a room, much like potpourri. The ruffled edge facilitated the enclosure of loose petals, plus it was a distinctive accent. Also, some rose bowls were used to hold a floating rose. Once again, they are commonly found in satin glass form. Satin glass was developed in the late 1800s as a Victorian innovation. The matte finish of satin glass was created by a final acid wash that etched the surface. Applied surface decorations and silver additions can be found on satin glass rose bowls. They are in the same family as bride’s baskets, berry bowls, and vases... an imaginative luxury. ROSE MEDALLION & ROSE CANTON These two Chinese ceramics are sometimes confused with one another; however, they can be easily distinguished. Rose Medallion is a Chinese ceramic made in the 1800s and 1900s as an export pottery, and both “newer” and “older” versions exist. Its design features very colorful weavings of flowers, , birds, butterflies, and people. Most Rose Medallion features different “panels” of art on the piece in which people are alternated with other creatures and flowers in scenes. Traditionally, there are four medallions with one central rose medallion. Yet, there is a wide variety of patterns and forms in rose medallion; therefore; you cannot think of rose medallion as a “matching set” or as matching at all. Rose Canton is very similar except there are no people in the designs. The main colors are pinks and some greens with dashes of others. In contrast to Rose Canton, a piece of Rose Medallion with an emphasis on people (few flowers) is termed Rose Mandarin. ROSE TAPESTRY This porcelain hails from Tettau, Germany, courtesy of the Royal Bayreuth factory. Dating from the late 1800s, its surface is made by pressing the semi-wet porcelain body against a rough cloth texture. The result is a finely “woven” fabric effect —pretty clever once you think about it. Like many, many other ceramics, Rose Tapestry is emblazoned with roses as decor. FAMILLE-ROSE Another Chinese export pottery classification, Famille-rose first became very popular among the upper-crust ranks of Europe. Wealthy British families ordered large amounts of Chinese export pottery, especially dinner services and Armorial services with their family’s coat-of-arms. Famille-rose is known for its gold highlights and non-transparent coloring. Created around 1720, Famille-rose incorporated opaque colors including an opaque pink for which the style is named. These opaque colors gave rise to new levels of shading and blending. There are other “Famille’s,” but the key to Famille-rose is the opaque color. Famille rose means “pink family”. On the other hand, Famille verte means “green family.” Original famille verte wares are dominated by transparent green colors and were primarily made in the Kangxi period (1662-1772). Famille-rose wares are dominated by opaque pink colors, and they were developed after Famille verte. Incarnations of both have been made in modern times. Another important note to keep in mind is that these are trade names, names made up by collectors and people studying the art. When it comes to classification, there is no specific scientific method concerned. ATTAR OF ROSE Also known as “essence of rose,” this sophisticated oil is distilled from rose petals. Attar of rose is usually clear or yellow-tinted, and it is commonly derived from specific rose species. Attar of rose is not a modern essence, it has been distilled for centuries ––a true antique oil. This “essence of rose” is used in perfume making, scenting toiletries, liqueurs, and flavoring. Attar of rose is a very concentrated oil. For example, in the south of France one type of attar is made from centifolia roses. In this case it takes 250 pounds of rose petals to equal one ounce of “essence of rose.” ROSE CUT DIAMOND A rose cut diamond (or any other precious stone) exemplifies one of the earliest types of stone faceting. In history, the most simple rose cut came into common use in the 1500s. It wasn’t until the 1640s that a more advanced rose cut, the brilliant cut, was developed. A triple brilliant cut was developed near the end of the 1600s. The reign of the rose cut fell when modern technology allowed for advancements in the stone cutting and grinding field. ROSE GOLD Rose gold often turns up in antique and estate jewelry, but what is rose gold? Well, all gold is actually yellow in color. After all, 100% gold is an element. However, different alloys of gold present different colors. True gold is a rather soft element, and it needs to have an alloy of another metal(s) for strength. Traditionally, yellow gold jewelry is alloyed with silver and copper. White gold is often alloyed with palladium, zinc, and nickel. Rose gold is alloyed with a greater ratio of copper in the mixture, and it is the copper that produces the reddish color. Not all rose gold is old, as it is still being produced. Rose gold has also been called red gold and pink gold. ROSEWOOD The term rosewood actually refers to more than one species of tree. Various types of tropical woods produced in Brazil, Honduras, Africa, India, and Jamaica fall into this category of ornamental wood. While the trees may be different, they do feature these same qualities: They have a deep brown to almost purplish tone, have a rich, dark grain that is resinous, and they are difficult to work —but are worth the extra effort. The use of rosewood has dramatically declined in modern times. The Brazilian heartwood tree, (genus Dalbergia of the family Leguminosae) was a major part of Brazil’s export economy approximately 300 years ago. Today, this fine tree is on the brink of extinction. It was once a prized wood for cabinetry and piano making. Other rosewoods are still used today in the production of guitars, violins, and xylophone bars. ROSE AMBER GLASS Rose Amber glass is the Mt. Washington Glass Company’s version of amberina glass. Amberina glass was presented by the New England Glass Company, and both glasses came onto the market around the same time. The two companies had a heated dispute over the glassware, but the dispute was resolved. Today, it appears that amberina won the battle, because rose amber glass has been classified as amberina glass. Both amberina and rose amber glass have gold combined into the molten glass mixture. After the glass form had been blown, shaped, or molded, the entire body appeared yellow-amber in color. Succeeding this, one section of the piece was placed back near the furnace for reheating to facilitate the chemical reaction which produced the red coloring (gold reaction). The Mt. Washington Glass Company worked together with the Pairpoint Mfg. Company in the late 1800s to produce silver and silver-plated items containing Mt. Washington glass, and many rose amber examples can be found in this “united” state. ROSE QUARTZ While many of us think of quartz as being an everyday, common stone; rose quartz has been prized for its simple beauty. Rose quartz has been collected and carved for centuries, and its color ranges from pale pink to richly blushed. Basically, rose quartz is like regular quartz except it has titanium for tinting and often has inclusions of rutile. These inclusions give rose quartz a milky coloring, and they can sometimes produce a slight star-shaped optical effect when the stone is polished (like star sapphires.) Mineable quantities of rose quartz can be found in Brazil, Sweden, Africa, Spain, and in the U.S. in California and Maine, to name a few. Rose quartz appears on some birthstone lists as January’s stone. It is also sometimes listed as the second anniversary gemstone. ROSETTE Rosette is really a “blanket” term for any circular or oval shaped ornament that has lines, leaves, or petals radiating out from the center. In ancient art, the rosette was a stylized interpretation of an open flower. For example, in ancient Egypt rosette designs were used to depict the look of an open lotus flower. Yet, as time pressed on and the rose itself became the world’s “international” flower, many rosettes were fashioned after the rose —plus the ornament took the rose’s name. Rosettes usually appear in the network of the Roman Corinthian column capitol. They can be found in medallions and most other Roman architectural accents... and that is only the beginning, because rosettes are everywhere. ROSES IN HISTORY The number of rose varieties and hybrids available to the world increases daily. Yet, few of us realize how ancient the rose really is, and I do mean ancient. In fact, the rose is believed to be the very first flower ever cultivated. One of the oldest examples of rose adoration comes from the 5th century in ancient Greece, where evidence shows the cultivation of roses. The Romans propagated roses widely, and with time the flower also appeared symbolically in ancient art. Greek and Roman mythology is riddled with references to the power of roses. Later, the rose is symbolically associated with the Church. When the Moors invaded Spain, they brought many varieties of roses to Europe including the first yellow roses ever to grow on European soil. Chinese gardens from 1000 AD cultivated roses. During the Middle Ages, the rose was used widely for medicinal purposes and it was cultivated for these qualities. Of course, the rose has been used as a perfume base for centuries–– a practice that lives on today. The rose has an intricate history that follows along with the growth of nations, the fall of empires, and the crossing of seas. Here are a few more historical footnotes. • There are well over 30,000 different varieties of roses. All of them originated from a small number of naturally wild species. • Since November 20th, 1986, the national floral emblem of the U.S. has been the rose. The state flowers of New York, Georgia, Iowa, and North Dakota are all rose varieties. • During World War II in Europe, rose hips were used as a source of vitamin C. • It is said that George Washington was the first breeder of roses in the U.S. • Cleopatra welcomed Marc Antony back to her with a room that was filled with rose petals... that is knee deep with rose petals! • Both Queen Elizabeth and Princess Grace of Monaco have had roses named after them. The Queen Elizabeth rose was actually bred here in the U.S.. Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, and Herbert Hoover also have roses named after them. • The wife of Napoleon I, Empress Josephine, is said to be the world’s first rosarian (one who studies and propagates rose species.) Their home, La Malmaison, once contained a garden with over 250 species of roses. Empress Josephine propelled the rose into garden fashion. Today, the gardens are in ruins. • Sappho, an ancient Greek poetess, wrote the poem “Ode to the Rose” in which she was the first to proclaim the rose as “Queen of the Flowers.” • While we often think of red roses as being the most common, there are actually more pink roses and rose varieties than red roses. • The hybrid tea rose “Peace” was officially introduced to the world on August 29, 1945, the day Berlin fell to the Allied Powers.