Original Antique Botanical Chromolithograph of Oyster Plant, c.1880
€ 795
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1880
Mapmaker / artist
Berthe Hoola van Nooten (1817–1892)
Publisher
Librairie Européenne C. Muquardt, Brussels
Sheet size
55.5 × 40 cm (21.9 × 15.7 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-14326-5
What the condition grades mean
Excellent
Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
Very good
Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
Good
Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
Fair
Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.
Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.
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.
About this sheet
A striking original antique botanical chromolithograph depicting Tradescantia discolor, now generally accepted as Tradescantia spathacea and commonly known as the Oyster Plant, Moses-in-the-Cradle, Boat Lily, or Cradle Lily. Celebrated for its dramatic sword-shaped foliage with rich green upper surfaces and deep purple undersides, this tropical ornamental remains one of the most distinctive foliage plants cultivated worldwide.
The illustration presents the plant in full alongside finely executed botanical studies of the flowers, fruit and seed structure, combining scientific precision with exceptional decorative appeal. The bold architectural leaves and elegant coloration make this one of the most modern-looking plates from the series.
The artwork was painted from life by the renowned Dutch botanical artist Berthe Hoola van Nooten (1817–1892) while living on the island of Java. Her celebrated publication, Fleurs, Fruits et Feuillages Choisis de l'Ile de Java, is regarded as one of the greatest nineteenth-century botanical works devoted to the remarkable flora of the Dutch East Indies. This plate was printed in vibrant chromolithography by P. De Pannemaeker of Ghent and published in the third edition issued in Brussels by Librairie Européenne C. Muquardt around 1880.
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.
