The Magnolia Palace

Magnolias appear as a motif in both the 1919 and 1966 storylines. When Veronica arrives at the Frick Collection in Chapter 2, “[t]he reception area was dominated by a massive floral arrangement on a table in the very center of the hall, where delicate magnolia blossoms erupted from thick, dark stems” (19). The flowers’ significance is first articulated through Joshua, the Frick Collection archivist, who explains: “For a time, Mr. Frick was the owner of the famous Magnolia Diamond, a flawless twelve-carat pink diamond. Today, the Frick Collection is well-known for the large magnolia trees on the main lawn” (27). Further, as Joshua points out, the magnolia trees were planted “because they represent transience” (112). The magnolias are relatively unique to the Frick Collection, especially in New York, and their likeness appears throughout the museum.

The Magnolia Diamond is a major focus of the 1966 storyline, as Veronica and Joshua hunt for the “magnolia treasure” that Veronica believes is the diamond. The treasure, however, turns out to be a watch fob for Richard Danforth, with a magnolia embroidered on the ribbon: “A delicate pale pink magnolia bloom had been sewn into the silk” (170). This illustrates the fact that the magnolia was an important symbol to the family on a personal level; because the Magnolia Diamond is hidden behind a cameo of Martha, magnolias remind the Fricks of Martha as well.