Botany · 20th century
€ 340
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Condition report: Excellent preservation with crisp plate marks and full margins. Slight, even toning consistent with age; hand coloring vivid and finely detailed.
This elegant set of hand-colored botanical engravings from 1902 presents three distinctive forms of the beloved Saxifraga genus — Saxifraga geum var. elegans (Kidney-leaved London-Pride, variety), Saxifraga hirsuta (Hairy London-Pride), and Saxifraga umbrosa (Common London-Pride). Together they depict one of Britain’s most iconic alpine and garden plants, admired for its delicate floral sprays and lush rosettes of evergreen leaves.
The first plate, Saxifraga geum var. elegans, portrays a refined variant with kidney-shaped, softly toothed leaves and airy branching stems crowned by clusters of small, pale purple-pink flowers. The engraving captures the fine veining and downy surface of the leaves with remarkable precision. In the center, Saxifraga hirsuta shows a slightly more robust and densely haired form, with larger basal leaves and a rich texture that evokes the wild character of its Irish and western habitats. The final plate, Saxifraga umbrosa, known as the Common London-Pride, features rounder, scalloped leaves bordered with fine yellow-green margins, supporting delicate pink-white blossoms on a slender reddish stem — a graceful study of one of Britain’s most enduringly popular ornamental plants.
These engravings beautifully express the balance of scientific detail and artistic sensitivity typical of Edwardian botanical illustration. Each plate includes magnified details of flower and seed structure, executed in fine line engraving and enhanced with soft watercolor washes. The subtle variations in hue — from the pale lilac of the petals to the muted greens of the leaves — give these works a gentle, natural charm that remains timeless.
Condition report: Excellent preservation with crisp plate marks and full margins. Slight, even toning consistent with age; hand coloring vivid and finely detailed.
Framing tips: Best displayed as a coordinated trio in slender gilt or light wood frames with soft ivory or sage-green mounts. Their cool floral tones and intricate botanical form make them ideal for refined interiors, studies, or botanical-themed spaces.
Technique: Hand-colored engraving
Maker: British, published London, 1902
