It is no secret that Mary Emaline’s favorite color was pink. She was born on Valentine’s Day and multiple rooms in the house are decorated with large amounts of pink, even down to the wall color. But in one of these pink rooms, there is an interesting ceiling medallion which has been a source of confusion for years.

In the very pink lady’s parlor, is a ceiling medallion above the chandelier. This medallion is in the shape of a Daffodil, a traditional yellow flower. A curious choice for a woman committed to pink. One would expect a rose, peony, or some other pink flower to grace the middle of the ceiling in one of the most important rooms in the house.

The Victorians are well-known for their love of flowers and their place in society was often used to send silent messages or convey meanings to anyone viewing them. Mrs. Peel does not strike me as the kind of woman who did anything by mistake or happy coincidences. The Daffodil likely meant something to her personally or was a symbol that she resonated with.

The Daffodil is a symbol of friendship, chivalry and respect. When thinking about the flower and the context of the lady’s parlor within the home, a few things stand out.

One, the ladies’ parlor is where all guests to the home were received, therefore, Mrs. Peel would have likely spent a lot of time in the parlor with her friends and fostering friendships with other ladies in her social circle. With the Daffodil overlooking the interactions in the room, it is easy to see why she may have chosen it for “friendship”.

Secondly, the parlor is also where gentleman callers would be presented to Mrs. Peel’s daughters. Remember, she had six in total and four who were unmarried when the family moved into the house. Chivalry and gentlemanly manners were of extreme importance during the Victorian period and Mrs. Peel may have chosen the Daffodil to overlook all interactions in the room as a silent message, or maybe even warning, to all the young men who came courting her daughters.

Finally, respect is something that would have been expected from anyone who entered the home. House calls and dinners were an important part of upper society during this period and as the wife of a successful lawyer and Congressman, Mrs. Peel would have spent a lot of time entertaining guests in the home. Her status demanded respect from anyone who encountered her.

Now, let us not look over the obvious answer that maybe Mrs. Peel just liked Daffodils. They are a very popular flower in the South and often herald warmer weather as one of the first to bloom in March. But Mary Emaline Berry Peel was very much in control of her house and farm, and it is doubtful she did nothing without a meaning and purpose.

Next time you visit the Museum, do not forget to look at the ceiling in the parlor and form your own opinion about the Daffodil.