Emma Peachey

Emma Peachey was a British artist, writer, and instructor best known for making lifelike wax flowers and fruit. She is often credited with helping to popularize wax flower modelling in Victorian Britain, turning a specialized decorative craft into something admired by a wider public.

Her work attracted high-level attention: she became "Artiste in Wax Flowers" to Queen Victoria in 1839, and accounts of her career note that she created thousands of white wax roses for the royal wedding. She also exhibited her work and taught others, building a reputation not just as a maker but as a skilled guide to the technique.

Today, readers are most likely to meet her through The Royal Guide to Wax Flower Modelling, the practical manual that preserved her methods for later generations. It remains a fascinating glimpse into Victorian taste, patient craftsmanship, and the kind of creative work that once sat between art, decoration, and instruction.