Floral Motifs on Early Chintz
Syringa vulgaris - Lilac
Syringa vulgaris (Lilac) from the Victoria and Albert Museum, Furnishing Fabric, c. 1805
Syringa vulgaris ( Lilac) from P. Bulliard, Herbier de la France, vol. 7: t. 265, 1776-1783.
Syringa vulgaris (Lilac) growing in a modern garden.
Common Names: Lilac, Common Lilac
Description: Syringa vulgaris (Lilac) is a member of the Oleaceae (Olive) family. William Aiton's1812 book Hortus Kewensis, ed. 2, vol. 4 recorded that this native of Mexico was introduced to Britain about 1796. Wild lilacs are purple but cultivated forms can also be pink, white, or yellow. White is a very common color for lilacs on chintz.
Flowers for which Syringa vulgaris (Lilac) may be mistaken:
Description: Syringa vulgaris (Lilac) is a member of the Oleaceae (Olive) family. William Aiton's1812 book Hortus Kewensis, ed. 2, vol. 4 recorded that this native of Mexico was introduced to Britain about 1796. Wild lilacs are purple but cultivated forms can also be pink, white, or yellow. White is a very common color for lilacs on chintz.
Flowers for which Syringa vulgaris (Lilac) may be mistaken:
Hydrangea, also known as Hydrangea macrophylla, is an ornamental shrub composed of many smaller white, pink, or blue flower clusters arranged in a ball. The leaves are large and shaped like a broad lance-head. It differs from Lilacs which have narrower petals and heart shaped leaves. The small clusters of flowers of Lilacs are arranged in a long, pointed flower head (inflorescence).
Snowball Viburnum, also known as Viburnum opulus, is an ornamental flowering shrub with three-lobed leaves and large clusters of 5-petaled white flowers resembling snowballs. It differs from Lilacs which have narrower petals and heart shaped leaves.
Quilts with the above Syringa vulgaris (Lilac) motif:
- None known at this time.
Chintz with the above Syringa vulgaris (Lilac) motif:
- Victoria and Albert Museum, Furnishing Fabric, Object Number Circ.221-1956, c. 1805
Additional Syringa vulgaris (Lilac) Motifs
Quilts with this Syringa vulgaris (Lilac) motif:
- Victoria and Albert Museum, Block Printed Cotton Panel inscribed 'John Lowe and Co. Furniture Printers, Shepley Hall', Object Number T.293-1913, c.1816
- New England Quilt Museum, Princess Charlotte Commemorative Quilt, Object Number 1991.13, New England Quilt Museum Quilts, p.31, 1820-1840
- The Castle Museum, York, Appliqued Coverlet Commemorating the Marriage of Princess Charlotte to Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg, Quilts of the British Isles, p. 86, c. 1820
Chintz with this Syringa vulgaris (Lilac) motif:
- Panel 21 in Appendix I of Merikay Waldvogel, "Printed Panels for Chintz Quilts: Their Origin and Use," Uncoverings 34 (2013): 125.
Quilts with this Syringa vulgaris (Lilac) motif:
- The Edisto Island Museum, Edisto Album Chintz Applique Spread, "Lowcountry Chintz: The Townsend/Pope Quilt Legacy", Uncoverings 34 (2013): 84, dated 1863
- Private Collection of Katherine Ratcliffe and Eleanor Bennett, Chintz Applique Quilt, Quilts of Virginia 1607-1899: The Birth of America Through the Eye of a Needle, p. 74, c. 1835
- Private Collection of Mr. & Mrs. Warren Schlenker, Mathematical Star Quilt, A Maryland Album: Quiltmaking Traditions - 1634-1934, p. 12, c. 1840
Chintz with this Syringa vulgaris (Lilac) motif:
- The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Printed Textile, Object Numbers 1969.4740 A, 1969.4740 B, 1969.4740 C, 1969.4740 D, 1969.4740 E, 1825-1835
Syringa vulgaris (Lilac) from Victoria and Albert Museum, Block Printed Cotton Panel inscribed 'John Lowe and Co. Furniture Printers, Shepley Hall', c.1816
Syringa vulgaris (Lilac) from the Edisto Island Museum, Edisto Album Chintz Applique Spread, dated 1863. Photo courtesy of Edisto Island Museum.
Syringa vulgaris (Lilac) from Victoria and Albert Museum, Furnishing Fabric, c. 1850
Syringa vulgaris (Lilac) from Victoria and Albert Museum, Furnishing Fabric, c. 1850
Quilts with the above Syringa vulgaris (Lilac) motif:
- None known at this time.
Chintz with the above Syringa vulgaris (Lilac) motif:
- Victoria and Albert Museum, Furnishing Fabric, Object Number T.10-1933, c. 1850
Syringa vulgaris (Lilac) from Daughters of the American Revolution Museum, Fish Family Chintz Album Quilt, dated 1844-1844
Quilts with the above Syringa vulgaris (Lilac) motif:
- Daughters of the American Revolution Museum, Fish Family Chintz Album Quilt, Object Number 5254, dated 1844-1844
- International Quilt Study Center, Ardis and Robert James Collection, Flower Basket Medallion Quilt, Object Number 2008.009.0001, dated 1837
Chintz with the above Syringa vulgaris (Lilac) motif:
- None known at this time.