A flower frog is a device used to assist in floral arranging. It helps to hold-in-place the stems which might otherwise shift out-of-place. Most often, one will see frogs used when arranging stems in a low bowl. With a taller vase, the high walls and "throat" of the vessel helps to consolidate the flowers. But arrangements in a bowl—especially when very few stems are used—can be much more challenging to affect the perfect look.
It is believed that flower frogs originated in Japan in the 1300's. The Japanese dubbed them kenzan, which means "sword mountain." They were spiky, needle-like structures which were perfect for ikebana arrangements—in which very few (three? five?) perfect stems were positioned (perfectly) in a low, horizontal bowl. The aim was to create a perfect, naturalistic composition, perhaps reminiscent of a (perfected) natural landscape. This kenzan style of flower frog is still manufactured and in-use today.
In the Twentieth Century, a "hairpin" style frog evolved from the kenzan design. It had hairpin-like loops of wire (without the sharp points) which some people favored (especially for dried or artificial flower arrangements, as the hairpins did not damage the stems). Later, frogs were produced with a "cage-like" design, intended to hold the stems in-place.
Glass or glazed ceramic frogs (with holes for the stems) were another popular style, manufactured from the 1700's. And there was no end to the fanciful frog designs which incorporated the aesthetic-of-the-day: Victorian, Aesthetic Movement, Art Nouveau, Arts & Crafts, Art Deco, Modernist.
No one can say, for certain, how flower frogs got their name. The closest speculation is that they were recognized as lumpy little objects which spend most of their lives sitting still, just beneath the surface of the water—reminiscent of frogs.
And flower frogs can be used for other useful purposes: as a paperweight, to hold pencils, or to arrange chopsticks, candy canes or lollipops.
Shown above, an Arts & Crafts ceramic frog, glazed in matte green. Based on the glaze and clay colors, I suspect that it may have been made by Peters & Reed (founded in 1899 in Zanesville, Ohio). Admittedly—with no maker's mark—there aren't many other clues to go by. When displaying low, Arts & Crafts bowls (if they are empty), I find that a nice frog, of a suitable size and color, helps to "break-up the monotony" of the plain, interior surface. It will add interest to the bowl when viewed from above. Click on the photo here to learn more about this handsome piece.
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