Rose nursery Belle Epoque brings back roses of old masters

Rozenkwekerij Belle Epoque brengt rozen van oude meesters terug - Belle Epoque

Belle Epoque presented a collection of rare and forgotten types of garden roses at an event in Museum van Loon in Amsterdam. Old types of climbing and shrub roses with a history and story that are cultivated in very small numbers. The roses can easily be planted at home. Workshops are also given. The ever-changing assortment can be viewed here.

Belle Epoque conducted extensive research into the roses seen in still lifes and studied art from European museums and hortus botanicus for years. The result is a collection of roses that is continuously supplemented with special types of shrub and Climbing roses. From wild roses from the time of the Greeks that were cultivated for medicinal and cosmetic purposes to the roses seen in 17th-century still lifes and the most exuberant varieties that arose during la belle époque - the period in which rose cultivation reached its peak.

The roses can be ordered via the Belle Epoque webshop. In pots and in autumn and winter as traditional bare root stocks. Planting and caring for the roses is easy, precisely because they are proven strong and healthy varieties. In this way, everyone can experience the beauty at home or give it as a gift.

The collection consists of wild, centifolia (hundred-leaved rose), damascena, alba, and rare old roses and will be continuously expanded. These are roses seen in still lifes by old masters such as Rachel Ruysch. Examples include the apothecary rose that has been cultivated in France since the 13th century, roses that adorned the gardens of Joséphine de Beauharnais and the French court such as Rosa Félicité et Perpétue or the Rosa Centifolia Muscosa which serves as the base for the world-famous perfume Chanel No 5.

For inspiration, workshops can be followed that are organized in collaboration with master binder Karin Looijestein.

Styling: Master in Flowers

Photography: Nancy van Schijndel and Roel Marius Brouwer