So excited about our speakers this year for the Lauritzen Gardens Antiques Show! On Saturday, September 21st, Christian Tortu will be doing a floral presentation. I have heard about Tortu for some time, and will be thrilled to finally see him in action. You can purchase tickets here.

Tortu was the elite florist at Takashimaya in New York City. Anyone remember that shop on Fifth Ave in Manhattan? I was so sad when it closed. I found a NYT article from 1998 that reported Tortu's Parisian customers included Catherine Deneuve, the Paris Opera, and the couturiers Christian Dior and Jean-Paul Gaultier. Additionally, "the Tortu store in New York is exclusive enough to refuse to identify its clients, though they are known to include Donna Karan, Woody Allen, and a mix of blue bloods, corporate masters of the universe and photographers who crave chic flowers for magazine shoots. Many Upper East Side town houses have standing accounts for weekly fresh-flower infusions." At one time, Tortu was largely considered to be the leading seller of flowers in NYC.

I have been following Christian Tortu since I joined instagram.

Here are a few of my favorite posts from his account.

(You can follow him here)

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Is this not the perfect image to represent Christian Tortu at the Lauritzen Gardens Antiques Show? So clever!

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Margot Shaw, Editor-in-Chief of flower magazine, is also a speaker at the Show this year. On Saturday afternoon, following Tortu's lecture, Shaw will be doing a presentation and signing her new book, Living Floral. Featuring a seasonal glimpse into the worlds of interior, floral, garden, and event designers, she'll be highlighting their use of flowers in entertaining and decorating.

This event is free with paid show admission or a Saturday luncheon reservation. Pre-registration is requested. View here.

Margot is a member of the Show's National Advisory Committee, and is actually the one who raved about Christian Tortu and recommended him for our Omaha Antiques Show. Here is a great article from flower magazine about her visit with and instruction from Christian Tortu at the FlowerSchool in New York. (here)

Christian Tortu with Margot Shaw

Margot Shaw’s new book.. Click to purchase here!

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Nina Campbell, doyenne of English interior design, is our Friday speaker. An icon in the design world, she is immensely likable with her heart shaped spectacles. More about Nina in an upcoming post!