Botany · 19th century
€ 1 290
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Good antique condition with age-related toning, occasional foxing and light handling wear consistent with age. Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form part of the description.
Antique Salak Palm Botanical Chromolithograph by Hoola van Nooten, c. 1880
A magnificent original antique botanical chromolithograph depicting Zalacca edulis Reinw., now generally accepted as Salacca zalacca, commonly known as the Salak Palm or Snake Fruit. Native to the islands of Java and Sumatra, the Salak Palm is one of Indonesia's most distinctive and economically important fruit species. It is instantly recognizable for its clusters of reddish-brown fruits covered in a glossy, scale-like skin resembling that of a snake, giving rise to its popular English name, Snake Fruit.
The composition beautifully illustrates a fruiting cluster emerging from the base of the spiny palm, together with the formidable thorn-covered stems, elegant pinnate foliage, and detailed botanical studies of the flowers, fruit and seed. The remarkable texture of the fruit and dramatic architectural form of the palm make this one of the most visually striking and unmistakably Indonesian plates from Berthe Hoola van Nooten's celebrated botanical masterpiece.
The artwork was painted from life on the island of Java by the distinguished Dutch botanical artist Berthe Hoola van Nooten (1817–1892). It was published in her masterpiece, Fleurs, Fruits et Feuillages Choisis de l'Ile de Java, widely regarded as one of the finest nineteenth-century botanical publications devoted to the flora of the Dutch East Indies. Printed in rich chromolithography by P. De Pannemaeker of Ghent, this plate was issued in the third edition published in Brussels by Librairie Européenne C. Muquardt around 1880.
Today, Snake Fruit remains one of Indonesia's signature tropical fruits and is especially associated with Bali and Java, where numerous regional varieties are cultivated. Its sweet, crisp flesh and extraordinary appearance have made it famous worldwide. This original antique print combines botanical importance with exceptional decorative appeal and ranks among the finest fruit subjects in the Hoola van Nooten series.
This is an original antique print, printed circa 1880, and not a modern reproduction or later copy.
Artist:
Berthe Hoola van Nooten (1817–1892)
Publication:
Fleurs, Fruits et Feuillages Choisis de l'Ile de Java
Publisher:
Librairie Européenne C. Muquardt, Brussels
Printer:
P. De Pannemaeker, Ghent
Date:
Circa 1880
Medium:
Original chromolithograph on wove paper.
Condition:
Good antique condition with age-related toning, occasional foxing and light handling wear consistent with age. Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form part of the description.
Please note that any framed images are for display inspiration only. The print is sold unframed. Framed mock-ups are not always shown to exact scale and are intended solely to illustrate how the artwork may look when displayed.
Keywords
original antique print, original chromolithograph, botanical print, Salacca zalacca, Zalacca edulis, Snake Fruit, Salak Palm, Salak, tropical fruit, Indonesian fruit, Java, Bali, Sumatra, Southeast Asian flora, Dutch East Indies, Berthe Hoola van Nooten, Victorian botanical illustration, nineteenth century botanical print, antique botanical wall art, natural history print, scientific illustration, P. De Pannemaeker, Muquardt Brussels, museum quality botanical art, rare botanical print, collectible botanical print, circa 1880
The Salak Palm is one of the most iconic fruit trees of Indonesia and immediately recognizable because of its remarkable snake-like fruit skin. Its strong association with Java and Bali, combined with its dramatic composition and exceptional decorative appeal, places it among the very finest Hoola van Nooten plates.
