Floral Motifs on Early Chintz
Welcome!
This website is intended to encourage accurate identification of flowers and other motifs found on chintz printed from the last quarter of the 18th century to the third quarter of the 19th century. We hope that you will find it useful. While the title says the site is designed to be used for flowers on chintz, you will see occasional examples and citations for copperplate printed, indigo resist, and perhaps other fabrics. We believe it can also be helpful in identifying flowers on other decorative art pieces such as on pottery and porcelains. These areas may be added as time permits and expertise becomes available. The site is currently quite small but there will be new additions as fast as we can research the flowers and get permission from collections, museums, and individual collectors to use their examples. Plant identifications were made by the author listed at the bottom of each page unless an outside expert is specified in the text.
We encourage you to make a copy of any of our pages for your own personal use. But please remember that all pictures and content on these pages is under copyright. If you use information from these pages in presentations or publications, please properly cite this website. If you wish to use pictures you will need to contact the copyright holders listed in the picture captions related to those pictures. Check out the "Links" page for web addresses of most of the collections and museums whose pictures are used. If no specific owner is listed, please contact us at the email address listed at the bottom of the page.
The site is designed to be seen on a conventional computer or laptop but is not currently cell phone or tablet friendly.
How do I find my flower or other motif?
For flowers, click on the "Flower Color as Seen on Chintz" button above. It will take you to a page that shows a sample picture of a particular color. Remember that dyes often faded and changed color (ex. purple often aged to brown) over time, so if you can't find your flower where you expect it, check other pages with similar colors. If your flower is, for example blue, you would click on the Blue example picture or the word Blue and you will be transferred to a gallery with pictures of all the blue motifs for which we have developed information. Click on your flower's picture to be transferred to the appropriate page. Also, some flowers were printed in two or more colors, so they should be shown on the pages for both colors. The "Motifs Other Than Flowers" button will take you to a picture gallery of plant-related motifs. Currently the topics include fruit, trees, and a lichen. We may add whatever other motifs seem appropriate. Clicking on a picture or its name should take you directly to the page for that topic.
Click on these links to get more information:
Why are there early botanical illustrations?
Why is the Hortus Kewensis cited?
If I think I know the name of a flower can I look it up?
Stylization and Artistic License
This website is intended to encourage accurate identification of flowers and other motifs found on chintz printed from the last quarter of the 18th century to the third quarter of the 19th century. We hope that you will find it useful. While the title says the site is designed to be used for flowers on chintz, you will see occasional examples and citations for copperplate printed, indigo resist, and perhaps other fabrics. We believe it can also be helpful in identifying flowers on other decorative art pieces such as on pottery and porcelains. These areas may be added as time permits and expertise becomes available. The site is currently quite small but there will be new additions as fast as we can research the flowers and get permission from collections, museums, and individual collectors to use their examples. Plant identifications were made by the author listed at the bottom of each page unless an outside expert is specified in the text.
We encourage you to make a copy of any of our pages for your own personal use. But please remember that all pictures and content on these pages is under copyright. If you use information from these pages in presentations or publications, please properly cite this website. If you wish to use pictures you will need to contact the copyright holders listed in the picture captions related to those pictures. Check out the "Links" page for web addresses of most of the collections and museums whose pictures are used. If no specific owner is listed, please contact us at the email address listed at the bottom of the page.
The site is designed to be seen on a conventional computer or laptop but is not currently cell phone or tablet friendly.
How do I find my flower or other motif?
For flowers, click on the "Flower Color as Seen on Chintz" button above. It will take you to a page that shows a sample picture of a particular color. Remember that dyes often faded and changed color (ex. purple often aged to brown) over time, so if you can't find your flower where you expect it, check other pages with similar colors. If your flower is, for example blue, you would click on the Blue example picture or the word Blue and you will be transferred to a gallery with pictures of all the blue motifs for which we have developed information. Click on your flower's picture to be transferred to the appropriate page. Also, some flowers were printed in two or more colors, so they should be shown on the pages for both colors. The "Motifs Other Than Flowers" button will take you to a picture gallery of plant-related motifs. Currently the topics include fruit, trees, and a lichen. We may add whatever other motifs seem appropriate. Clicking on a picture or its name should take you directly to the page for that topic.
Click on these links to get more information:
Why are there early botanical illustrations?
Why is the Hortus Kewensis cited?
If I think I know the name of a flower can I look it up?
Stylization and Artistic License
What's New
Recently Added Pages:
Recently Added Pages:
Addition to the Fragaria sp. (Strawberry) page courtesy of a private collector.
Campanula medium calycanthema (Cup and Saucer Flower) This image courtesy of the Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum.
Addition to the Aquilegia vulgaris (European Columbine) page. This image courtesy of the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Cucumis melo (Melon) This image courtesy of the Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum.
Addition to the Campanula sp. (Bellflower) page. This image courtesy of the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Primula vulgaris (Primrose) This image courtesy of the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Thanks!
This page wouldn't be possible without the generosity of Museums, Collections, collectors, vendors, and a myriad of individuals who have kindly allowed us to use pictures of their pieces to illustrate specific floral motifs, botanical illustrations, and live plants, or helped with plant identifications. If you see something you like and you have the opportunity, please thank the organizations or individuals responsible for making this page possible. Check out our Links page to find out a bit more about the people and organizations who have contributed.
This page wouldn't be possible without the generosity of Museums, Collections, collectors, vendors, and a myriad of individuals who have kindly allowed us to use pictures of their pieces to illustrate specific floral motifs, botanical illustrations, and live plants, or helped with plant identifications. If you see something you like and you have the opportunity, please thank the organizations or individuals responsible for making this page possible. Check out our Links page to find out a bit more about the people and organizations who have contributed.
You can contact us at: flowersonchintz.webmaster@gmail.com
© Updated 9/8/2024 Author: Terry Terrell
© Updated 9/8/2024 Author: Terry Terrell