Floral Motifs on Early Chintz
Iris japonica- Japanese Fringed Iris
Iris japonica (Japanese Fringed Iris) from the 1843 Maria M. Fish and Emma Fish Chintz Applique Album Quilt owned by the International Quilt Study Center & Museum, Object Number 2005.053.0003. Photo by Richard Bray with kind permission from the International Quilt Study Center & Museum.
Iris japonica (Japanese Fringed Iris) from Curtis's Botanical Magazine, vol. 11: t.373 (1797).
Iris japonica (Japanese Fringed Iris) growing in modern garden. By Lazaregagnidze (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Common Names: Japanese fringed iris, Japanese iris, Chinese iris, fringed iris, orchid iris, butterfly flower, shaga, putchcock 
 
Description: The Iris japonica (Japanese Fringed Iris) is a member of the Iridaceae (Iris) family. William Aiton's Hortus Kewensis, ed. 2, vol. 1 recorded that this native of China was introduced to Britain in 1792. 
 
Quilts with the Iris japonica (Japanese Fringed Iris) motif: 
 
  • International Quilt Study Center & Museum, Maria M. Fish and Emma Fish Chintz Applique Album Quilt, IQSC 2005.053.0003, dated 1843 
  • International Quilt Study Center & Museum, Chintz Applique Album Quilt Probably Made by Lydia Corliss and Lily Corliss, IQSC 2008.040.0005, dated 1843 
  • International Quilt Study Center & Museum, Medallion Quilt Probably Made in Shippensburg, PA, IQSC 1997.007.0479, dated 1843 and 1844 
  • Daughters of the American Revolution Museum, Achsah Goodwin Wilkins Chintz Applique Counterpane, Object Number 2014.5, c. 1820 
  • Denver Art Museum, Anna E. Perrine Applique Album Quilt, Object Number 1985.300, dated 1842 and 1843 
  • Shelburne Museum, Tree of Life Medallion Quilt, Chintz Quilts: Unfading Glory, p. 32, late 18th century 
  • New Jersey State Museum, Amwell Baptist Church Album Quilt, Collection Number CH1993.6.1, dated 1845 
  • Private Collection of Mrs. Eric Lassotovitch, Chintz-appliqued coverlet Designed by Achsah Goodwin Wilkins, Baltimore Album Quilts, p. 32, c. 1830 
  • Private Collection of Mr. and Mrs. John Glenn, Applique Coverlet, Dunton's Old Quilts, Plate 69, undated
  • Private Collection of Miss Eleanor R. Thompson, Applique Quilt, Dunton's Old Quilts, Plate 71, undated
 
 
Chintz with the above Iris japonica (Japanese Fringed Iris) motif: 
 
  • The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Fabric Fragment, Object Numbers 1969.3132, 1969.3933.001, 1969.3933.002, 1969.3933.003, 1969.3933.004, Printed Textiles (Montgomery), p. 320, Figure 361, c. 1830


© Updated 1/13/2020     Author: Terry Terrell