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Official Chelsea Hotel Flower, Philosopher and Motto

Crownimperial Sherill Tippins is hard at working putting the finishing touches on her forthcoming history of the Chelsea Hotel.  Sherill writes to inform us that she has unearthed potential candidates for an official flower, philosopher and motto for the hotel.

I found this on a website about Charles Fourier, the Chelsea Hotel's philosophical father, and thought you might like to make it the website's Official Flower: The Crown Imperial (Fritillaria imperialis), Charles Fourier's emblematic flower.

According to popular wisdom, it symbolizes majesty.  For Fourier, it represents the true scientist or artist living poorly in Civilization, whose worth is not recognized, and who has only his enthusiasm to sustain himself.

And here's a quote of Fourier's that's appropriate for the Chelsea right now: "Truth and commerce are as incompatible as Jesus and Satan."

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7 responses to “Official Chelsea Hotel Flower, Philosopher and Motto”

  1. What, Me Worry? Avatar
    What, Me Worry?

    Truth and Commerce are as imcompatible as Jesus and Satan
    Yet Stanley Bard found ways to make them work in unison for decades, through thick and thin and more bad economies than Wall Street can remember. Johnny come latelys in the front office take notice, considering your failure to make good in the void that Stanley and David Bard left behind.
    A less arrogant bunch might ask whether the problem lies with them.

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  2. Petals of Metal Avatar
    Petals of Metal

    Isn’t the Chelsea’s official flower the Sunflower?

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  3. Sherill Avatar
    Sherill

    I agree–the sunflower is the better candidate. It’s there, it’s native to the U.S. (whereas the Crown Imperial comes from Asia Minor), and it holds its blossoms up for inspection instead of hiding them underneath.
    Anyway, according to the web, Crown Imperials smell like “wet fur and garlic.”
    Maybe the sunflower is what the Crown Imperial would have become if it had lived at the Chelsea.

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  4. Resident Avatar
    Resident

    I’m down the man’s philosophy.
    Best of luck wrapping up your book Sherill!

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  5. Carrie Bedsore /Cherry Ramone / Rob from Aus Avatar
    Carrie Bedsore /Cherry Ramone / Rob from Aus

    Now I feel inspired to see who should be patron saint of the Chelsea. If there isn;’t one for hotels or bohemians I may just have to appoint one!
    Can’t wait for this book- a history of anarchism in practise to feed my madness!

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  6. Sherill Avatar
    Sherill

    Fourier named certain members of his imagined community who could potentially qualify for sainthood, including:
    1) The best cooks, and
    2) Those who were willing to make love to the love-deprived (since he believed in every individual’s inalienable right to a minimum level of both income and love).
    So you might start your search for a patron saint among folks with one or both of those talents.

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  7. philippine flower shops Avatar
    philippine flower shops

    Oh! Beautiful! this is the first time I saw that kind of flowers. What do you called that flower?
    -fern-

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