Growing up, my mom had a tulipiere. She got it while she was in Amsterdam, and it was one of my favorite pieces in our house. When I got married, my mom gave me my own tulipiere at a shower. I was so touched and it quickly became one of my favorite pieces for our house. I think they are so beautiful and such a unique piece for your home.
A tulipiere is a vase for flowers (traditionally tulips) with different small openings for one or two flowers and a shared reservoir of water. They come in many different colors and sizes, but tulipieres are of Dutch origin so most commonly have blue and white patterns. Some tulipieres come in multiple levels and can become really tall and statuesque. I love my little size though. It’s round and has seven openings. It’s perfect for my house and the look and feel I’m trying to achieve.
These pieces are so beautiful and were very popular in the 17th and 18th century, but are having a comeback moment right now. They match many current trendy decor themes, with a touch of vintage. Tulipieres make a great focal piece.
If you google tulipieres, you will see that traditionally, flowers are cut very close to the openings so the look is very tight. I prefer a looser look with my tulips less formal and more cascading. Also, while we’re on the subject of tulips, mine in these photos are fake. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s been hard to purchase fresh flowers. Also tulips are a seasonal flower. To have gorgeous tulips year round, I highly recommend these faux florals. They are inexpensive and have more of a rubbery quality rather than silk. They do have a slight rubber smell right when you take them out of the package, but that goes away by the next day. They are some of the best fake florals I have ever seen.
If you are going to purchase a tulipiere for your home, here are a few things to note.
Cleaning: the first time I tried to clean mine, my brain almost exploded. Don’t be afraid. Put a tiny bit of dish soap in one of the openings and let the water run through it until the water runs clear. Don’t put in the dishwasher! To dry it, just flip it upside down on a clean towel and let it do it’s thing.
Storing: If you aren’t going to leave your tulipiere out all the time, you can store it on a shelf. To protect it, wrap in a piece of tissue paper before storing.
Floral arranging: Despite the fact that it is called a “tulipiere,” you can use all kinds of flowers and greenery. Roses, daisies, holly at Christmas, the sky’s the limit. Always feel free to be creative.
Watering: To ensure that each flower gets enough water, the water levels in a tulipiere should fill to the bottom of the openings.
So what are your thoughts? Do you have a tulipiere already? Where would you put one in your house?
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