Floral Motifs on Early Chintz
Narcissus tazetta - Polyanthus Narcissus
Narcissus tazetta (Polyanthus Narcissus) from the Victoria and Albert Museum, Furnishing Fabric Fragment, Object Number T.418-1967, c. 1830-1840
Narcissus tazetta (Polyanthus Narcissus) from Eeden, A.C. van, Album van Eeden, Haarlems flora, afbeeldingen in kleurendruk van verschillende bol- en knolgewassen, plate 58, 1876
Narcissus tazetta (Polyanthus Narcissus) by Yoav Dothan (Public Domain)
Common Names:  Polyanthus Narcissus, Paperwhite, Chinese Sacred Lily, Italian Narcissus, Bunch-flowered Narcissus, Bunch-flowered Daffodil, Cream Narcissus, Joss Flower

Description: Narcissus tazetta (Polyanthus Narcissus) is a member of the Amaryllis Family (Amaryllidaceae).  The Hortus Kewensis, ed. 2, vol. 2 recorded this native of Portugal and Spain was first cultivated in Britain in 1596.


Quilts with this Narcissus jonquilla (Jonquil) motif: 

  • Private Collection of Miss Scott, Center Medallion applique quilt, Old Quilts, p. 183, "Probably 1810" (This date, suggested by Dunton in his Old Quilts book, is clearly in error)
  • Private Collection of Mr. & Mrs. Warren Schlenker, Elizabeth Dahle quilt, A Maryland Album, p. 12, c. 1840 
  • The Collection of Eleanor F. Mackintosh, Appliqued Chintz Friendship Quilt, A Maryland Album, p.101, dated 1844-46
  • The Poos Collection, Trapunto Mathematical Star, Chintz Quilts from the Poos Collection, p. 208, c. 1835 
  • Ardis and Robert James Collection, International Quilt Museum, Center Medallion, possibly Baltimore, MD, Object Number1997.007.0306, 1830-1850 
  • Ardis and Robert James Collection, International Quilt Museum, Center Medallion, Object Number1997.007.0479, d. 1843-1844 
  • International Quilt Museum, Center Medallion, possibly made in Springfield, OH, Object Number 2001.015.0001, c.1852 
  • The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Chintz Applique Medallion Quilt with stuffed work, Museum Object Number 1960.1024, c. 1825 
  • The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Chintz Applique Quilt, Museum Object Number 2016.0010.001, 1844 
  • Maryland Historical Society, Charlotte Augusta Norris Wedding Quilt, The Baltimore Album Quilt Tradition, p.17, c. 1839 
  • Maryland Historical Society, Elizabeth Clark quilt, The Baltimore Album Quilt Tradition, p. 58, c. 1840 
  • Private Collection, Lone Star Quilt with Chintz Appliques and Chintz Border, c. 1840 
  • Daughters of the American Revolution Museum, Garnhart Eagle Quilt, Object Number 74.282, Historic Quilts of the DAR Museum, p. 32, c. 1825 
  • Daughters of the American Revolution Museum, Mary Rooker Norris quilt, Object Number 86.143, A Maryland Album, p.109, d. 1846 
 

 Chintz with this Narcissus jonquilla (Jonquil) motif: 
 
  • The Victoria and Albert Museum, Furnishing Fabric Fragment, Object Number T.418-1967, c. 1830-1840 
                                           Additional Narcissus tazetta (Polyanthus Narcissus) Motifs 
Narcissus tazetta (Polyanthus Narcissus) courtesy, Winterthur Museum, DETAIL-Printed textile, 1850-1855, England, Cotton, Bequest of Henry Francis du Pont, 1969.3592
Chintz with this Narcissus tazetta (Polyanthus Narcissus)  motif: 
 
  • The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Textile Panel, Object Number 1969.3592, 1850-1855 
  • Private Collection, Mid-1800s Floral print (see Winterthur 1969.3592) on light background, mid-1800s
Narcissus tazetta (Polyanthus Narcissus) in two different motifs from the Ardis and Robert James Collection, International Quilt Museum, Wild Goose Chase Quilt, 1830-1850
Quilts with this Narcissus tazetta (Polyanthus Narcissus) motif:
  • Ardis and Robert James Collection, International Quilt Museum, Wild Goose Chase Quilt, Object Number 1997.007.0486, 1830-1850
                                              More Narcissus tazetta (Polyanthus Narcissus) Motifs 
                                                                  (No pictures available at this time) 
 

Quilts each with a different Narcissus tazetta (Polyanthus Narcissus) motif: 
  • International Quilt Museum, Medallion Quilt, Object Number 2011.067.0001, American Quilts in the Industrial Age, 1760-1870: The International Quilt Study Center & Museum Collections, p. 148, dated 1824
  • The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Eliza Ely Bready Quilt, Object Number 1963.0086, Quilts in a Material World: Selections from the Winterthur Collection, p. 78, 1840-1850
Quilts with a Waldvogel Panel 14 Narcissus tazetta (Polyanthus Narcissus)  motif: 
  • American Folk Art Museum, Broderie Perse Tree of Life Quilt, Treasury of American Quilts, p. 131, c 1925 (using fabrics from the 1830s)
  • Private Collection, Fancy Appliqued Quilt with Scroll Border, A Maryland Album: Quiltmaking Traditions, 1634-1934, pp. 54-55, c. 1840
Chintz with a Waldvogel Panel 14 Narcissus tazetta (Polyanthus Narcissus) motif: 
  • Panel 4 in Appendix I of Merikay Waldvogel, "Printed Panels for Chintz Quilts: Their Origin and Use," Uncoverings 34 (2013): 124.
Also, check out the July 21, 2018 Chintz Panels in Quilts blog (https://chintzpanelquilt.blogspot.com/2018/07/floral-bouquet-with-blue-ribbons-panel.html) by Merikay Waldvogel and Barbara Brackman for several pictures, citations,  and more information about the printed panel on which this motif occurs.






    ©  Updated 3/15/2020      Author: Terry Terrell