About this sheet
A magnificent original antique botanical chromolithograph depicting the flowers of the Wax Apple, also known as Java Apple or Water Apple. The plate is titled Flores Jambosae Domesticae after the work of Georg Eberhard Rumphius and illustrates the spectacular blossoms of Syzygium aqueum (formerly Jambosa domestica), one of Southeast Asia's most beautiful tropical fruit trees.
Native to the Malay Archipelago, including Indonesia, the Wax Apple has been cultivated for centuries for both its crisp, refreshing fruit and its striking ornamental qualities. The tree is especially admired for its remarkable crimson flowers, composed of dense clusters of brilliant stamens that create spectacular pompom-like blossoms before developing into the familiar bell-shaped fruits.
The composition captures flowering branches together with finely executed botanical studies of the floral structure, demonstrating the scientific precision and artistic excellence that characterize Berthe Hoola van Nooten's celebrated botanical masterpiece. The vibrant scarlet blossoms and glossy evergreen foliage make this one of the most decorative flowering plates in the series.
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, the Wax Apple remains one of the most ornamental fruit trees of tropical Asia and is widely cultivated throughout Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and beyond. This original antique print combines botanical importance with exceptional decorative appeal and is among the finest flowering subjects from the Hoola van Nooten series.
This is an original antique print, printed circa 1880, and not a modern reproduction or later copy.
Publication:
Fleurs, Fruits et Feuillages Choisis de l'Ile de Java
Printer:
P. De Pannemaeker, Ghent
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.
