10314 Dried Flower Centerpiece holds up as an excellent addition to the blossoming Botanical theme.

Parts:

This set is a cornucopia of interesting pieces in muted colors. As of the writing of this review eight months after release, nine element-color combinations are still exclusive to this set, while a further 11 are found in five or fewer sets. The number of each of these elements is decent, making this an excellent parts pack if nothing else.

Of particular note are the four Spruce Tree, Small and PLANT, W/ 3.2 SHAFT, NO. 1 in olive green which could be particularly useful for MOCs. You get four and 15 of these elements, respectively.

Continuing the olive green train, FINGER LEAF in olive green has only been found in three sets. Most recently in the 2022 Ray the Castaway GWP and previously not seen since 2017's Battle on Scarif before that.

Additionally, this set is a great way to get PLANT, W/ PLATE 1X1, NO. 1 in olive green if you do not want to cannibalize your A-Frame Cabin and Rivendell to use this piece in quantity. 31 are included here.

Breaking away from olive green, the dark tan CROWN, NO. 1, dark red PADDLE, NO. 1 and orange EPAULETS (sic) are excellent and useful recolors.

Building Experience:

I built this set with my wife. The bags and instructions were perfectly divided for two builders. Until the final third of the build we were frequently assembling the same sub-assembly due to the symmetry of the piece. This was a fun dynamic that facilitated conversation about the piece.

The build begins with the base. This was my first experience with the PLATE 2X6, W/ FUNCTION, NO. 1 part in any color and I was impressed to see how it was locked in place. The first few bits of foliage added were underwhelming in their coverage of the base. This abruptly changes on step 73 when the second to last foliage sub-assembly is attached. When looking at the final product, my wife and I marvelled at how all of the elements appear organically arranged and no mounting mechanisms are visible.

My favorite step of the build was 51 when the aforementioned FINGER LEAF piece was perfectly placed over some of the unsightly ball and socket connectors on the extremity of the base.

Playability/Displayability:

This set has no playability unless you count manoeuvring the flowers. On that note, motion is limited, but I noticed the individual flower assemblies are much stronger than, say, the lavender from 10280 Flower Bouquet.

Removing the two black PLATE 1X5 from the sides allows you to separate the model into two halves from the 1 x 8 connection module in the middle. This is useful because parts are also included to combine this set to mount three copies of this set in a hexagonal arrangement. This is a fantastic inclusion which is expected of a premium product like LEGO.

I do not have two additional copies of the set so I can't comment on the combination arrangement, but I feel the exposed black connectors to make the larger centerpiece would be distracting. Perhaps placing a candle or another fall display MOC in the center would remedy this issue.

As a display piece, this set is impeccable. Both my mother and sister-in-law commented the final piece looks better than the images on the box. The orange daisies built by epaulettes and clusters of cool yellow flowers on dark green stems are scattered tastefully around the focal flowers. The symmetry of the stacked dark tan crowns, light tan gears and large dark red flaps are a beautiful backdrop for the floral amalgam.

I've caught a few family members, and admittedly myself, lingering by the mantle where the piece is displayed admiring the intricate composition. The piece looks fantastic on display where it can be appreciated via multiple angles.

The only downside to this set is its size. The size is reasonable for the pieces and detail, but the set is dwarfed when placed on a wall or, per it's name, as a centrepiece on a dining table. Propped on our mantle ended up being a good temporary location for this piece, but I will need to search for a more suitable home during the fall season.

Value for Money:

812 pieces for $50 USD seems like excellent value on paper. However, many of these pieces are 1 x 1s or small clip elements. On the other hand, many of the parts remain exclusive to this set, or are still fairly rare.

Admiring the final product I can easily see $50 of value for the set. High quality centrepieces can run the gamut in prices, and this set exudes quality with the best of them. The composition is excellent and the building experience went from strength to strength.

Right now, you can find the set for sale on Amazon for 20% off retail. $40 is a steal for this set, which would make an excellent house-warming gift this season. It is a great fall themed date night activity, or solo activity for these cold rainy days in the north.

Final Thoughts:

This set is not one to miss. Consider it as an add-on to hit a GWP threshold, a use for some of those stockpiled Insider points, or an impulse purchase from a secondary retailer. My family and I will enjoy building this set each year going forward, as I'm sure you will too.