Floral Motifs on Early Chintz
Trifolium repens or Trifolium dubium - Shamrocks
Trifolium repens or T. dubium (Shamrocks) from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Quilt Center, Accession Number 1971.180.130
Trifolium repens (Shamrocks) detail  from William Curtis, Flora Londinensis, vol. 3, plate 46, 1778
Trifolium repens (Shamrocks) by Leo Michels/CC0, Public Domain 
Common Names for Both: Shamrocks
Common Names for Trifolium repens: White Clover, White Dutch Clover, White Dutch Trifolium, Ladino, Ladino Clover, Western Clover
Common Names for Trifolium dubium: Lesser Clover, Lesser Trefoil, Suckling Clover, Little Hop Clover, Lesser Hop Trefoil, Slender Yellow Trefoil
 
Description:  Trifolium repens and T. dubium (Shamrocks) are members of the Pea family (Fabaceae). The Hortus Kewensis, ed. 2, vol. 4 recorded  that both species of Trifolium are native to Britain.  A 1988 survey by the Irish National Botanic Gardens 35% percent of those surveyed identified Trifolium repens and 46% identified Trifolium dubium as shamrocks.* Other species, including Trifolium pratense (Red Clover), are also occasionally called shamrocks.  Because they are the National plant of Ireland they are often found in chintz designs commemorating Irish or British victories, celebrations, coronations, etc.
 
Quilts with this Trifolium repens or Trifolium dubium (Shamrocks) motif: 
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Bed Cover, Object Number T.25-1961, c. 1810
Chintz  with this Trifolium repens or Trifolium dubium (Shamrocks) motif: 
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art, Quilt Center, Accession Number 1971.180.130
  • Panel 24 in Appendix I of Merikay Waldvogel, "Printed Panels for Chintz Quilts: Their Origin and Use,” Uncoverings 34 (2013): 125

Also, check out the May 1, 2018 Chintz Panels in Quilts George III Jubilee: Panel 24 blog (https://chintzpanelquilt.blogspot.com/2018/05/george-iii-jubilee-panel-24.html) by Merikay Waldvogel and Barbara Brackman for several pictures, citations, and more information about the printed panel on which this motif occurs. 
Additional Trifolium repens or Trifolium dubium (Shamrocks) Motifs
Trifolium repens or T. dubium (Shamrocks) from the Victoria and Albert Museum, Bed Cover and Border, dated 1829
Quilts with this Trifolium repens or Trifolium dubium (Shamrocks) motif: 
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Bed Cover and Border, Object Number T.428&A-1985, dated 1829
  • Private Collection, Wellington Commemorative Quilt, Patchwork Quilts, pp. 44, c. 1813
Chintz with this Trifolium repens or Trifolium dubium (Shamrocks) motif:
  • Panel 26 in Appendix I of Merikay Waldvogel, "Printed Panels for Chintz Quilts: Their Origin and Use,” Uncoverings 34 (2013): 125 

Also, check out the March 20, 2019 Chintz Panels in Quilts Panel 26: Wellington and Vittoria blog (https://chintzpanelquilt.blogspot.com/2019/03/panel-26-wellington-vittoria.html) by Merikay Waldvogel and Barbara Brackman for several pictures, citations, and more information about the printed panel on which this motif occurs. 
More Trifolium repens or Trifolium dubium (Shamrocks) Motifs
                                                                    (No pictures available at this time)



Chintz each with a different Trifolium repens or Trifolium dubium (Shamrocks) motif:
  • The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Printed Textile, Object Numbers 1969.0175.001, 1969.0175.002, 1969.0175.003, 1969.0175.004, 1825-1830
  • The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Printed Textile, Object Number 2006.0016, 1833-1893
*   Nelson, E. Charles (1991). Shamrock: Botany and History of an Irish Myth: a Biography of the Shamrock in History, Literature, Music and Art, pp. 86–90, 139–144, 153



   ©  Updated 9/13/2020    Author: Terry Terrell