Showy Lily, Snake’s Head & Garden Tulip – Antique Flower Prints c.1897
€ 380
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1897
Mapmaker / artist
Anonymous botanical artist, late 19th century
Technique
Chromolithograph
Sheet size
24 × 15.9 cm (9.4 × 6.3 in)
Reference
BG-13692-4-55, -56, -57
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
Very good. Light age toning and minor edge wear consistent with age. Strong plate marks visible, with vibrant color retention. Sold as loose prints, there is no frame included.
About this sheet
Antique Prints of Showy Lily, Snake’s Head & Garden Tulip – Plates 282–284, c.1897 This set of three late 19th-century botanical chromolithographs beautifully illustrates some of the most beloved flowering plants: the Showy Lily (Lilium speciosum), the Snake’s Head (Fritillaria meleagris), and the Garden Tulip (Tulipa gesneriana). Each plate comes from a finely produced botanical series of the Victorian era, prized for both its decorative artistry and scientific accuracy.
Plate 282 features the Showy Lily, a striking species with gracefully recurved petals shaded in white and rose, spotted with deep crimson, and accompanied by a detailed rendering of the bulb. Plate 283 depicts the Snake’s Head Fritillary, known for its distinctive nodding, bell-shaped blooms with a purple chequered pattern, along with bulb and floral details. Plate 284 presents the Garden Tulip in multiple forms, with blossoms in rich colors and intricate stripes, celebrating the horticultural fascination that made tulips central to European gardening traditions.
Together, these three chromolithographs not only highlight the Victorian passion for exotic and ornamental plants but also embody the elegance of botanical illustration at its finest. Their strong colors and detailed renderings make them ideal decorative pieces, while their historical and botanical significance will appeal to collectors of natural history art.
Framing tips: For a cohesive display, consider ivory or cream mats paired with dark wood or gilt frames. Displayed as a set, they create a striking wall arrangement that emphasizes both the scientific and artistic qualities of the prints.
