Antique Sugarcane Chromolithograph, Teboe Gadjah and Teboe Boethers, 1892

About this sheet

Antique Sugarcane Chromolithograph, Teboe Gadjah and Teboe Boethers, 1892

Description
This large chromolithographic plate illustrates two distinct sugarcane varieties cultivated in Java and was published in Berlin in 1892 as part of Friedrich Soltwedel’s botanical study Formen und Farben von Saccharum officinarum L. und verwandten Arten. Executed by W. A. Meyn, the plate exemplifies the high quality of late nineteenth-century agricultural illustration, combining scientific accuracy with strong decorative presence.

The sheet contains Plates VII and VIII, depicting Teboe Gadjah and Teboe Boethers. Teboe Gadjah, named using the old spelling of gajah (elephant), refers to a robust, thick-stemmed cane variety, while Teboe Boethers is shown as a more elongated, evenly coloured cane. Both varieties are presented in full height against a plain background, allowing close comparison of form, surface texture, and coloration.

These plates were produced during a period of intensive botanical and agricultural research in the Dutch East Indies, when sugarcane cultivation formed the backbone of plantation economies. Soltwedel’s atlas of plates was issued separately from the accompanying text volume and is now scarce, particularly in well-preserved condition.

With its tall vertical format and restrained earth-toned palette, this plate has strong visual impact and is suitable both for collectors of botanical prints and for interior designers seeking large-scale historical imagery related to agriculture, colonial history, or tropical themes. Companion plates from the same series depicting earlier varieties are also available; a combined offer can be arranged.

Condition report
One plate in very good condition for its age. Light, even age toning and minor surface marks. Slight marginal wear consistent with atlas plates. Colours remain fresh and well preserved. Plate mark visible. No significant tears or losses.

Framing suggestions
Best framed vertically. A dark walnut or ebonized frame with an ivory or parchment mat offers a classic, museum-style presentation, while a slim antique gold or bronzed frame enhances the warm brown and green tones. Wide matting is recommended to emphasize scale and preserve the original margins.

Technique: Chromolithography
Maker: W. A. Meyn after F. Soltwedel, Berlin, 1892