I'm late to the discussion, but artificial flowers were widely available in
England at this time, so I think they'd be reasonably available in New
England.
… Artificial flowers are made, sometimes of very fine coloured paper,
sometimes of the inside linings upon which the silk-worm spins its silk,
but principally of cambric, which is a kind of linen made of flax, first
manufactured at Cambray, in France; of which great quantities were imported
into this country: but now, persons convicted of wearing, or selling, or
making up for hire, any cambric or French lawns are liable to a penalty of
5l. Book of Trades, 1806
… Artificial flowers belong to a second order of dress, from whence too
they are likely soon to be banished, not bearing the contrast of nature;
flowers of stamped or cramped satin and lace are now a more approved
ornament for hats or caps. La Belle Assemblée, May 1811
… Artificial flowers, which we have no longer occasion to import from
France, since our own are hardly to be distinguished from the productions
of nature, are universally adopted in full dress by juvenile belles; they
are also used to ornament the toques and turbans of matronly ladies.
Repository of Arts, July 1817
… Flowers, made of feathers, from a beautiful head-dress for young ladies;
La Belle Assemblée, January 1818
… These flowers are of velvet, feathers, or transparent whalebone. La
Belle Assemblée, December 1827
Happy sewing,
Deb Salisbury
The Mantua-Maker
www.mantua-maker.com
www.etsy.com/shop/MantuaMakerPatterns
www.etsy.com/shop/MomNDadsJewelry
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