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<I>Wire frame, pillow with hinge, round</I>

Hartley & Little

In mourning symbolism, symbols of rest and peace became popular and consoling universal options. Floral frames were made in shapes such as the pillow, the crescent and star, a banner with the word “Rest,” or floral frame lettering to spell out “At Rest.” In flower frames, the idea of death as sleep was expressed most frequently through the popular pillow frame design. The pillow was symbolic of comfort, peace, and rest. Because of its domestic connotations, it was also indicative of family and home. Historically, this frame design was one of the most popular set pieces and it was considered appropriate for all ages and genders. The most frequently used frame size was 16 x 24 inches. While the form of the pillow was simple, florists could use considerable variation in making it up. Inscriptions were frequently applied to the pillow design, and the pillow was frequently chosen for that purpose. “Rest” or “At Rest” were the two most common inscriptions for the pillow. Other lettering suggestions included the name of the deceased, or script to indicate the relation of the sender to the deceased such as “Father,” “Mother,” “Son,” “Daughter,” “Sister,” “Brother,” “Aunt,” “Uncle,” or “Baby.” One of the most popular inscriptions for the pillow among Christians was “Asleep in Jesus.” It was considered especially sentimental on the frames made for the funerals of young children.

Date

ca. 1871

Type

Floral frames

Medium

Wire

Department

HAC

Institution

Smithsonian Gardens

Object number

hac_1999.061

Credit

Smithsonian Gardens, Horticultural Artifacts Collection.