If there was ever a flower to be beloved, it is the lovely tulip. Tulips were first used for medicinal purposes, but in the 17th century they began to be used in the Netherlands for decoration. New tulip bulbs were developed and they quickly grew in both popularity and worth.
The rapid increase in the monetary value of tulips was later dubbed the “Tulipmania.” Due to their increasing value, tulips became a status symbol. If you wanted your neighbors to think you were of high status, you needed to have tulips. It was the equivalent of wearing designer brands today. At the height of the mania, a single tulip bulb was sold for more than 5,200 guilders – around six years worth of income for the average worker. Tulips were priced higher than houses.
This surge in cost did not last, however. In 1637, there was a crash in the price of tulips. What was once a prized item became, while still liked, vastly less expensive. Those who invested in tulips lost their money as the price began to stabilize.
While prices were sky high during Tulipmania, they are affordable to the average consumer today! If you wish to purchase this piece of history, simply click the shop tab to view numerous tulip arrangements.
