Not any fallen leaves, but maple, beech, willow oak, hickory and aspen were worn by Americans "... in Europe, formed into wreaths for the hair, or trimmings for ball-dresses, and the effect was considered beautiful." ...The following directions for preserving autumn leaves preceded several recipes for Charlotte Russe in an 1854 cookbook. After being flattened, varnished and dried, the leaves “formed into wreaths for the hair, or trimmings for ball-dresses…”
AUTUMN LEAVES.—The autumnal colours of our American forest trees are
justly admired for the brightness, richness, and variety of their tints. Some
of our fair countrywomen have worn them in Europe, formed into wreaths for the
hair, or trimmings for ball-dresses, and the effect was considered beautiful.
They may be preserved for this purpose by the following process.
Gather as many varieties of autumn foliage as you can obtain; seeing
that every leaf is perfect, and that there is a stem to each. The best time is
in the month of October. Include among them those of the crimson maple, the
purple beech, the willow oak with its underside of silvery white, the yellow
hickory, the aspen, and any others that are richly tinted by the frost. Also,
by way of contrast, some green pine sprigs. Lay them separately between the
leaves of a large writing-paper book, (an old ledger will do very well,) and do
not put tree leaves between all the book-leaves successively, but alternately;
otherwise they will not be smooth and flat when pressed. That is, put
tree-leaves between the second and third pages of the book, and then no more
till between the sixth and seventh pages. Lay the next tree-leaves between the
tenth and eleventh pages, and so on, till they are all in. Place several other
heavy books upon the ledger so as to press well the leaves beneath.
Stretch a twine across the room, or from the backs of two chairs, and
tie a small twine string to each stem. Have ready some very fine clear varnish,
(such as is used for maps, & c) and with a large camels' hair brush, go
carefully over both sides of the leaves, including the stem. Fasten them all,
separately, to the stretched twine; seeing that none of them are near enough to
each other to touch. Then lock the door of the room, that nothing may get in to
disturb them, or raise the slightest dust while the varnish is drying. When
perfectly dry, and not in the least sticky to the touch of the finger, have
ready some sheets of smooth thick white paper. In each sheet cut small double
slits to admit the stems, and in this way secure the leaves from slipping about
and being injured. Write the name of each leaf above it. Let the other half of
the sheet lie upon them. Put these sheets within a double cover of
binders-board, (like a port-folio,) which you must then seal up in paper, like
a large parcel, and the leaves in all their autumn beauty may be safely transported
to any part of the world.
They will be found very useful to landscape-painters.
Leslie, Eliza. New Receipts for
Cooking. Phila: 1854
“Evening-dress of white silk, with two skirts; the lower one has a flounce of lace, headed by a puffing of silk, caught at intervals with sprays of crimson salvia; the upper skirt is in longitudinal puffs, finished in the same manner; puffed and pointed corsage trimmed with salvia; round wreath of the same for the hair.”
Godey’s Lady’s Book. Feb 1860
first image-
"...Round dress of amber coloured crape, a puckering of gauze of the same
colour at the border, finished by rouleaux, wadded very full of white satin, with
full blown white roses, and a few leaves of green foliage: under each rose is
an antique ornament of the rosace kind, composed of white satin, with a tuft of
amber in the interior. The body of this beautiful dress is of satin…"
La Belle Assemblée. March 1823©2013 Patricia Bixler Reber
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