Floral Motifs on Early Chintz
Iris germanica - Bearded Iris
Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) from the Daughters of the American Revolution Museum, Framed Center Medallion Counterpane, circa 1840-1850
Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) from Curtis's Botanical Magazine, vol. 18, plate 670, 1803
An old-fashioned Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) growing in a modern garden.
Common Names: Bearded iris, German iris. Flower-de-Luce. 
 
Description: Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) is a member of the Iris family (Iridaceae). Most of our modern bearded irises are hybrids not the original Iris germanica, though they are often called either that or German irises. The Hortus Kewensis, ed. 2, vol.1 recorded that this plant is a native of Germany and was introduced to cultivation in 1573. The chintz illustration may be an Iris hybrid with Iris germanica at the parent stock.  They were popular garden flowers and plant breeders had about 250 years to hybridize them before the chintz was printed. 
 
Quilts with this Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) motif : 
 
  • Daughters of the American Revolution Museum, Framed Center Medallion Counterpane, Object Number 3788, circa 1840-1850 
  • The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Sophia Myers Pearce Quilt, Object Number1996.0011, c.1830-1840 
  • Philadelphia Museum of Art, Applique Quilt Probably made by the Sewing Society of the First Baptist Church, Philadelphia, Object No. 1982-134-1, 1846-1850 
  • The Poos Collection, Trapunto Mathematical Star, Chintz Quilts from the Poos Collection, p. 208, c. 1835 
  • Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Hannah Nicholson Quaker Album Quilt, Catalog Number 1986.0657.01, 1843 
  • Maryland Historical Society, Chinz Applique Quilt Probably Made by Johanna Montell, Object Number 1955.8.1, c. 1834 
  • Museum of American Folk Art, Chintz Applique Quilt with Chintz Border Possibly Made in New England, Glorious American Quilts: The Quilt Collection of the Museum of American Folk Art , p. 15, Object Number P1.1995.5, 1835-1850 
  • Ardis and Robert James Collection, International Quilt Museum, Medallion, IQSC1997.007.0633, d. 1830-1850
  • Private Collection, Sarah V.B. Quick Applique Album Quilt, America's Quilts and Coverlets, p. 177, dated 1844 
  • Private Collection, Rising Star Quilt, America's Quilts and Coverlets, pp. 90-91, c. 1820
Chintz with this Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) motif : 
  • None known at this time 
                                   Additional Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) Motifs
Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) from the The Edisto Island Museum, Edisto Album Chintz Applique Spread, "Lowcountry Chintz: The Townsend/Pope Quilt Legacy", Uncoverings 2013, dated 1863
Quilts with this Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) motif: 
  
  • The Edisto Island Museum, Edisto Album Chintz Applique Spread, "Lowcountry Chintz: The Townsend/Pope Quilt Legacy", Uncoverings 2013, dated 1863 
  • The Alphretta Album Spread in Fig. 12 of Sharon Fulton Pinka, "Lowcountry Chintz: The Townsend/Pope Quilt Legacy," Uncoverings 34 (2013): 85, started c. 1860 and completed 1935 
  • Colonial Williamsburg, The James Betts Quilt, Colonial Williamsburg Online Collections (http://emuseum.history.org) and search for James Betts quilt, Object Number 1970-194, c. 1840
  • Patricia S. Smith Collection, National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Annie Righton Smith Appliqued Quilt, Object Number 1998.149.19, Calico & Chintz: Antique Quilts From the Collection of Patricia S. Smith, pp. 96-97, c.1840
Chintz with this Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) motif : 
  • None known at this time 
Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) on the Charleston Museum John Lowe & Company of Shepley Hall Chintz Fragment, dated 1835. Image courtesy of the Charleston Museum.
Quilts with this Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) motif: 
  •  None known at this time
Chintz with this Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) motif: 
  • The Charleston Museum, The John Lowe & Company of Shepley Hall Chintz Fragment, Shelving Locator HT 572, dated 1835 
Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Phebe Warner Coverlet, Probably Made by by Sarah Furman Warner Williams, c. 1803
Quilts with this Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) motif: 
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art, Phebe Warner Coverlet, Probably Made by by Sarah Furman Warner Williams, Object Number 38.59, c. 1803
  • Philadelphia Museum of Art, Mary Firth Bedcover, The Fine Art of Textiles: Philadelphia Museum of Art, p. 94, Object Number 1962-44-1, 1825-1830
Chintz with this Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) motif: 
  • None known at this time
Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) from the International Quilt Museum, Wild Goose Chase Quilt,1830-1850
Quilts with this Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) motif: 
  • International Quilt Museum, Wild Goose Chase Quilt, Object Number 1997.007.0486, 1830-1850
Chintz with this Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) motif: 
  • None known at this time
Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) from the Victoria and Albert Museum, Bromley Hall Pattern Book Textile Design, 1760-1800
Quilts with the above Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) motif: 
  • None known at this time
Chintz or patterns for printing chintz with the above Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) motif: 
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Bromley Hall Pattern Book Textile Design, Object Number E.458:147-1955, 1760-1800
  • Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Textile Panel, Object Number 1969.3246, 1770-1790
Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) from the Victoria and Albert Museum, Bromley Hall Pattern Book Textile Design, 1760-1800
Quilts with the above Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) motif: 
  • None known at this time
Chintz or patterns for printing chintz with the above Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) motif: 
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Bromley Hall Pattern Book Textile Design, Object Number E.458:82-1955, 1760-1800
Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) from the Victoria and Albert Museum, Furnishing Fabric, 1830
Quilts with the above Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) motif: 
  • None known at this time
Chintz with the above Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) motif: 
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Furnishing Fabric, Object Number Circ.286-1956, made 1830
  • Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Printed Textile, Engraved by John Potts, Object Number 1959.0084.055, 1825-1835 (lighter colorway with white background)
Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) courtesy, Winterthur Museum, DETAIL-Printed textile, 1850-1855, England, Cotton, Bequest of Henry Francis du Pont, 1969.3592
Quilts with this Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) motif: 
  • None currently known. 
 
Chintz with this Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) motif: 
  • The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Textile Panel, Object Number 1969.3592, 1850-1855
  • Private Collection, Mid-1800s Floral print (see Winterthur 1969.3592) on light background, mid-1800s
                                      More Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) Motifs
                                                        (No pictures at this time)


Quilts each with a different Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) motif: 
  • Museum of American Folk Art, Sarah Morrell Album Quilt, Glorious American Quilts: The Quilt Collection of the Museum of American Folk Art , p. 27, Object Number1986,16.1, 1843
  • Ardis and Robert James Collection, International Quilt Museum, Medallion Quilt, Object Number 1997.007.0659, 1830-1850
  • Ardis and Robert James Collection, International Quilt Museum, Medallion Quilt, Object Number 1997.007.0306, 1830-1850
  • International Quilt Museum, Susan Pritchard Kirkwood Flower Basket Quilt, Object Number 2008.009.0001, dated 1837
  • Philadelphia Museum of Art, Priscilla Barnett Dodson Quilt, Accession Number 1939-36-2, 1840-1845
  • Charleston Museum, Emily N. Ballard Bride's Quilt, Chintz Quilts: Unfading Glory, p. 43, Shelving Locator HT589, dated 1852 
  • Maryland Historical Society, Elizabeth Clark Appliqued Bedcover, The Baltimore Album Quilt Tradition, pp. 58-59, Object Number 1964.24.1, c.1840
  • Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Appliqued Counterpane, Attributed to Achsah Goodwin Wilkins and Unidentified African Americans, Four Centuries of Quilts: The Colonial Williamsburg Collection, p. 195, Object Number 2009.609.1, c. 1820
  • Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Wholecloth Quilt, Object Number 1969.3901, c.1795
Chintz each with a different Iris germanica (Bearded Iris) motif: 
  • The Castle Museum, York, Printed Chintz Centerpieces (upper 2 pieces in figure), Quilts of the British Isles, p. 84, early 19th century 





   ©  Updated 1/18/2020     Author:  Terry Terrell