Gold Dipped Rose
Handcrafted from real roses, a collectible gold dipped rose is the perfect gift to give when wanting to tell someone they are loved. Unlike the real thing, a gold dipped rose will last a lifetime thanks to its preservation in 24K [gold]. Picked when the rose is at it the peek of its beauty, it's then carefully maintained and shaped before finally finished in a rich gold coating.
Thanks to fossil evidence, the long-lasting symbol of love and beauty – the rose – is known to be 35 million years old. Throughout the northern hemisphere there are 150 species of rose which can be found from Alaska to Mexico and as far as northern Africa. The cultivation of roses in gardens began some 5,000 years ago, with the likelihood that this was first done in China. In the Middle East, where roses were broken into pieces to make confetti for celebrations, and where they were also used in perfume and medicine, during the Roman period, the flower was grown extensively. In fact, public rose gardens could be found in the south of Rome, having been created by Roman nobility.
The rose flower was once used as a symbol in the famous “War of the Roses,” where a series of dynastic civil wars took place in Medieval England (from 1455 to 1487) between the house of York (the white rose) and the house of Lancaster (the red rose) for control of the English throne. The struggle ended with the accession of the Tudor monarch Henry VII. The causes of the conflict included: both houses were direct descendants of Edward III; Henry VI, who was the ruling Lancastrian king, had surrounded himself with very unpopular nobles; civil unrest in most of the population; powerful lords who had at their disposal, their own private armies.
During much of the 17th century, roses were in such high demand, royalty deemed both the flower and and the popular rose water, as legal tender, often used in bartering and/or for payment. In the 1800s, Josephine, the wife of Napoleon, created a large collection of roses at their estate – Chateau de Malmaison – which was seven miles west of Paris. Eventually, this garden became the setting for the artist Pierre Joseph Redoute, who was a botanical illustrator. His watercolor collection entitled “Les Rose,” was completed in 1824 and today is still considered one of the best records of botanical art.
A gold dipped rose can easily be made into a lovely indoor 'garden' of 24K goodness. By adding more than one rose dipped in gold to a lovely vase or curio cabinet, you will always be reminded of natures delicate beauty.
Sophia Grace is a collector of gold dipped rose gifts. You can view a huge selection of gold dipped roses at Plated Gold Roses.