I wanted to try some new flowers in the flower bricks. Although they don't have the longest stems, I thought pansies might be suitable. They are just coming into bloom and easily available.
This flower brick is from France where they are known as a vase pique fleurs. This is marked on the bottom: Decor de tradition, Vieux Moustiers, Le Petit Vallauris, 83160, La Vallette du Var, Toulon-France.
![](/sites/default/files/vase-pique-fleurs-moustiers2_th.JPG)
![vase pique fleurs moustiers](/sites/default/files/vase-pique-fleurs-moustiers3_th.JPG)
![vase pique fleurs moustiers](/sites/default/files/vase-pique-fleurs-moustiers_th.JPG)
This is the Culpeper flower brick.
![](/sites/default/files/culpeper_flower_brick_th.JPG)
This is an Isis flower brick (by Deborah Sears). When I took this pic I didn't realize a chip was so prominent in the top right corner, front right!
![](/sites/default/files/Isis-Ceramics_flower_brick_th.JPG)
Sadly I think these pansies are too short to work effectively with a flower brick. I will continue the research!
After seeing the flower bricks on Antiques Roadshow yesterday (2nd week of January 2014), I was inspired to push the hyacinth vases to one side, buy some inexpensive flowers and have a go at arranging them in my (reproduction) flower bricks. I did not know which were the best flowers to use and how many of each but in this case I was limited by availability and budget. This time it's red tulips and purple iris.
![hyacinth vases and flower bricks](/sites/default/files/flower_bricks1_13-1-2014_th.JPG)
The stems are much too long. I've had to force myself to trim them even more. It's painful
![flower bricks](/sites/default/files/flower_bricks2_13-1-2014_th.JPG)
but I see they do look better. One flower in each hole I think would be too much and wouldn't even fit.
![flower bricks](/sites/default/files/flower_bricks3_13-1-2014_th.JPG)
The holes in the Winterthur brick are smaller, too small for the tulips and irises. The greenery that came with the irises just fits.
![flower bricks](/sites/default/files/flower_bricks4_13-1-2014_th.JPG)
I need to see how the iris look when in bloom. I'll probably have to shorten them even further. I've filled all the bricks with water (through the larger central hole). I think that's a good number of tulips in the Culpeper brick.
![flower bricks](/sites/default/files/flower_bricks5_13-1-2014_th.JPG)
I have not been able to find any period examples of flower bricks with flowers (eg paintings or illustrations) but from my experimentation I think less is more, the smaller the better with flower size and not every hole needs a stem in it. I will try other kinds of flowers and post results here.
a couple days later and the iris are in bloom, I think they are too big for the "vase" and overwhelm the flower brick, I will look out for other flowers to try
![purple irises in flower brick](/sites/default/files/flower_bricks6_14-1-2014.JPG)