Floral Motifs on Early Chintz
Tulipa sp. - Tulip
Tulipa gesneriana (Tulip) (published as Tulipa globosa serotina aureo colore punctata) from Basilius Bessler, Hortus Eystettensis, vol. 1, folio 11,1613
Tulipa sp. (Tulip) from the Private Collection, Pillar Print Textile Panel with Fancy Machine Ground, c. 1830s
Tulipa sp. (Tulip) in a modern garden.
Common Names: Tulip
Description: Tulipa sp. (Tulip) is a member of the Lily Family (Liliaceae). The Hortus Kewensis, ed. 2, vol. 2 records Tulipa gesneriana, the type species and most likely progenitor of most currently cultured tulips, as native of the Levant with the earliest cultivation date in Britain of 1577. When tulips were introduced to European cultivation, "Tulip Mania" ensued. Tulips became the most highly prized flowers in Europe. They appeared in many fine and decorative arts applications including printed textiles. Tulips were one of the most frequently depicted flowers on chintz in the 1800s.
Quilts with this Tulipa sp. (Tulip) motif:
Description: Tulipa sp. (Tulip) is a member of the Lily Family (Liliaceae). The Hortus Kewensis, ed. 2, vol. 2 records Tulipa gesneriana, the type species and most likely progenitor of most currently cultured tulips, as native of the Levant with the earliest cultivation date in Britain of 1577. When tulips were introduced to European cultivation, "Tulip Mania" ensued. Tulips became the most highly prized flowers in Europe. They appeared in many fine and decorative arts applications including printed textiles. Tulips were one of the most frequently depicted flowers on chintz in the 1800s.
Quilts with this Tulipa sp. (Tulip) motif:
- Metropolitan Museum of Art, Chintz Appliqué Quilt Made by Mary Malvina Cook Taft, Accession Number 1970.288, American Quilts and Coverlets in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, p. 21, 1830-1850
- Private Collection, Pillar Print Textile Panel with Fancy Machine Ground, c. 1830s
- The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Printed Textile, Object Number 1960.0153.001, 1830-1835 (different background)
- Victoria and Albert Museum, Furnishing Fabric, Object Number T.308.1971, c. 1830 (different background)
Additional Tulipa sp. (Tulip) Motifs
Tulipa sp. (Tulip) from the Private Collection, Early 1800s Red and White Pillar Print Fabric Fragment Engraved by Joseph Lockett, early 1800s
Chintz with this Tulipa sp. (Tulip) motif:
- Private Collection, Early 1800s Red and White Pillar Print Fabric Fragment Engraved by Joseph Lockett, early 1800s
- The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Printed Textile, Engraved by Joseph Lockett, Object Number 1958.0077.006, 1820-1830 (this is the red and white colorway)
- The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Printed Textile, Object Number 1969.3356, 1819-1829 (this appears to be the same engraving printed in a brown and red colorway)
Tulipa sp. (Tulip) courtesy, Winterthur Museum, DETAIL-Printed textile, 1850-1855, England, Cotton, Bequest of Henry Francis du Pont, 1969.3592 C
Chintz with this Tulipa sp. (Tulip) motif:
- The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Textile Panel, Object Numbers 1969.3592 A-J and 1969.4544 A-H, Printed Textiles: British and American Cottons and Linens 1700-1850, p. 311, 1850-1855
- Private Collection, Mid-1800s Floral print (see Winterthur 1969.3592) on light background, mid-1800s
Tulipa sp. (Tulip) from the Private Collection, Large Fragile Pillar Print Valance, c 1830
Quilt with this Tulipa sp. (Tulip) motif:
- Patricia S. Smith Collection, National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Whole-cloth Quilt, Object, Calico and Chintz: Antique Quilts from the Collection of Patricia S. Smith, p. 120, c. 1845 (multi-colored colorway)
- Private Collection, Large Fragile Pillar Print Valance, c 1830 (brown and white colorway)
© Updated 8/16/2020 Author: Terry Terrell