Valentine’s Day, rooted in the feast day of Saint Valentine, has evolved from a solemn observance to a celebration of love. Today, it’s a time for creative, handcrafted expressions of affection. On today’s blog we are looking at how we incorporate some of the Valentine’s Day symbols into our designs.
Handmade Crafts
Inspired by Victorian love letters, we embrace handmade details in our designs, from hand-stitched headboards to hand-painted furniture and appliquéd cushions. The craftsmanship adds a personal, loving touch to every piece.
Bow and Arrow
Cupid’s playful arrow symbolises love and we’ve incorporated this shape in our Christopher Farr design, ‘One Way’, where the diagonal arrows add movement and depth to any space.
The Heart
The heart symbol has ancient origins and during the Victorian era, it became synonymous with love thanks to Richard Cadbury’s heart-shaped chocolate box. The heart shape evokes our deep appreciation for Swedish antiques and folk art, where this symbol often appears in beautifully hand-painted designs. Many of our favourite pieces are hand-painted chests, once used to store clothes and treasured possessions, but now repurposed as stunning decorative accents and unique coffee tables.
Knots
Knots symbolise commitment, dating back to ancient handfasting ceremonies. We incorporate them into our designs through beautiful stitching and accents, such as French knots, which add texture and artistry to upholstery and cushions.
Doves
Doves are timeless symbols of peace and love, often depicted in mythology with the goddesses of love. We’re inspired by this elegance, with doves featured in Breon O’Casey’s artworks in the Library at Number Sixteen Hotel.
We hope this blog has inspired you to discover the symbols of love that surround you! Happy Valentine’s Day from us!