Floral Motifs on Early Chintz
Papaver somniferum - Opium Poppy
Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) from the Daughters of the American Revolution Museum, Framed Center Medallion Counterpane, c. 1840-1850 
Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) from  Benjamin Delessert and Augustin Pyramus de Canolle, Icones selectae plantarum, vol. 2, plate 7, 1823
Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) from a field in Turkey by Mark Nesbitt and Delwen Samuel
Common Names: Opium Poppy, White Poppy, Common White Poppy, Black-seeded White Poppy
 
Description: Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) is a member of the Papaveraceae (Poppy) family. It has been used at least from medieval times for medicinal purposes. It is somewhat similar in appearance to Papaver alpinum (alpine poppy) but is a larger plant. The Hortus Kewensis, ed. 2, vol. 3 recorded that this plant is native to England. 
 
Quilts with the Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) motif: 
 
  • The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Sophia Myers Pearce Quilt, Object Number 1996.0011, 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 
  • Daughters of the American Revolution Museum, Framed Center Medallion Counterpane, Object Number 3788, c. 1840-1850 
  • The Poos Collection, Trapunto Mathematical Star, Chintz Quilts from the Poos Collection, p. 208, c. 1835 
  • American Folk Art Museum, Chintz Applique Quilt with Chintz Border Possibly Made in New England, Object Number 2003.1.2, 1835-1850 
  • Charleston Museum, Gracy Drummond Album Quilt, Object Number 2011.26.1, c. 1844 
  • Ardis and Robert James Collection, International Quilt Museum, Medallion, IQSC 1997.007.0633, d. 1830-1850 
  • Winedale Quilt Collection at the Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin, Sarah V.B. Quick Applique Album Quilt, America's Quilts and Coverlets, p. 177, dated 1844 
  • Massilon Museum, Isabel Hall Hurxthal Sampler Album Quilt, Treasury of American Quilts, p.146, c. 1835-1846 
 
Chintz with the Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) motif: 
 
  • None known at this time


                               Additional Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) Motifs
Three Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) motifs from the Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Quilt center, England, 1810-30, Cotton, 1969.3247, Bequest of Henry Francis du Pont, Courtesy of Winterthur Museum (note the variation in flower form due to extensive of plant breeding)
Quilts with this Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) motif:  
 
  • The Quilters' Guild Collection, The Quilters' Guild of the British Isles, the Fife Coverlet, 1830-1839  
  • Private Collection of Parks Hutchinson Dalton, Central Diamond Medallion Made by Ann Adeline Orr Parks in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, North Carolina Quilts, p. 50, c. 1830  
  • Private Collection of Charles Orr Dalton, Central Diamond Medallion Made by Ann Adeline Orr Parks in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, North Carolina Quilts, p. 51, c. 1830  
  • Collection of the Carson House, Marion, NC, Floral Wreath Medallion made by Kadella, a slave owned by Colonel John Carson, North Carolina Quilts, p. 61, c. 1820-1840  
  • The Charleston Museum, Chintz Applique Quilt, Social Fabric: South Carolina's Traditional Quilts, p.14, Object Number HT 740, c. 1840  
  • The Charleston Museum, Chintz Applique Quilt Made by Mrs. Daniel Crawford, Object Number HT 742, c. 1840  
  • The Charleston Museum, Chintz Applique Quilt, Social Fabric: South Carolina's Traditional Quilts, p.14, Object Number HT 584, c. 1830  
  • Ardis and Robert James Collection, International Quilt Study Center, Printed Center Medallion Quilt, Object Number 2007.040.0001, 1830-1850

Chintz with this Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) motif:  
  • The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Quilt center, England, 1810-30, Cotton, 1969.3247, Bequest of Henry Francis du Pont, Courtesy of Winterthur Museum 
  • Panel 2 in Appendix I of Merikay Waldvogel, "Printed Panels for Chintz Quilts: Their Origin and Use," Uncoverings 34 (2013): 124 

Also check out the December 17, 2018 Chintz Panels in Quilts blog (https://chintzpanelquilt.blogspot.com/2018/12/panel-2-round-bouquet-in-feather-scroll.html) by Merikay Waldvogel and Barbara Brackman for several pictures, citations, and more information about the printed panel on which this motif occurs. 
Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) from Private Collection, Irregular Fabric Fragments, c. 1830
Quilts with this Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) Motif:
  • International Quilt Museum, Star of Bethlehem Quilt, Object Number 1997.007.0369, 1830-1850 
  • Poos Collection, House in the Woods Diamond in a Square Quilt, Chintz Quilts from the Poos Collection, pp. 156-157, c.1820 

Printed Cottons with this Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) Motif:
  • Private Collection, Irregular Fabric Fragments, c. 1830
  • Private Collection of Dawn Cook Ronningen, Valance, late 19th c. to early 20th c. 
  • Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Printed Textile, Object Numbers 1969.0507.001 A, 1969.0507.001 B, 1969.0507.002 A,1969.0507.002 B, Printed Textiles: British and American Cottons and Linens, 1700-1850, p. 298, c 1830 
  • Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Printed Textile, Object Numbers 1969.3113, 1969.3922.001, 1969.3922.002, Printed Textiles: British and American Cottons and Linens, 1700-1850, p. 299, c 1830 
Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) from the International Quilt Museum, Maria M. and Emma Fish Quilt, dated 1843
Quilts with this Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) Motif:
  • International Quilt Museum, Maria M. and Emma Fish Quilt, Object Number 2005.053.0003, dated 1843  
  • Philadelphia Museum of Art, Sarah Flickwir Quilt, Object Number 1952.63.1, dated 1841-1846
Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) from the International Quilt Museum, Mary Yeadon Album Quilt, dated 1848-1849 
Quilts with this Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) Motif:
  • International Quilt Museum, Mary Yeadon Album Quilt, Object Number2006.003.0005, dated 1848-1849 
  • Kansas State Museum, Mellichamp Quilt, Southern Quilts: Surviving Relics of the Civil War , p.41, 1850-1855 
Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) from the Victoria and Albert Museum Fabric Fragment, c. 1814
Quilts with this Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) Motif:
  • Shelburne Museum, Tree of Life Medallion Quilt, Chintz Quilts: Unfading Glory, pp. 30-31, early 19th century  
  • Private Collection, Chintz Applique Quilt, displayed during the Bed Turning at the 2017 American Quilt Study Group Seminar, Manchester, NH, no date 

Printed cottons with this Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) Motif:
  • Victoria and Albert Museum Fabric Fragment, Object Number Circ.352-1955, c. 1814
More Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) Motifs
                                                                  (No pictures available at this time)
Two quilts with the same Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) Motif different from those above:
  • The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Sophia Myers Pearce Quilt, Object Number 1996.0011, c.1830-1840 
  • Massilon Museum, Isabel Hall Hurxthal Sampler Album Quilt, Treasury of American Quilts, p.146, c. 1835-1846 
Two more quilts with the same Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) Motif different from those above:
  • International Quilt Museum, Star of Bethlehem Quilt, Object Number 1997.007.0369, 1830-1850 
  • Private Collection of Mr. & Mrs. Warren Schlenker, Elizabeth Dahle quilt, A Maryland Album, p. 12, c. 1840 
One quilt with two different Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) Motifs that are different from those above:
  • Daughters of the American Revolution Museum, Floral Roundels Medallion Quilt, Historic Quilts of the DAR Museum, p.38, made c. 19815-1825, quilted c. 1870 (This quilt contains Panel 9 and Panel 12, as described in Appendix I of Merikay Waldvogel, "Printed Panels for Chintz Quilts: Their Origin and Use," Uncoverings 34 (2013): 124.  Each panel has a different poppy.)
Also check out the September 17, 2019 (https://chintzpanelquilt.blogspot.com/2019/09/small-floral-panels-9-and-17.html) and August 18, 2019 (https://chintzpanelquilt.blogspot.com/2019/08/) Chintz Panels in Quilts blogs by Merikay Waldvogel and Barbara Brackman for several pictures, citations, and more information about the printed panels on which these motifs occurs. 



Printed cottons each with a different Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) Motif:
  • Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Printed Textile, Object Number 1959.0062.006, Printed Textiles: British and American Cottons and Linens, 1700-1850, p.305, 1850s-1860s
  • Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Printed Textile (Ex-Curtain), Object Number 1964.0045, Printed Textiles: British and American Cottons and Linens, 1700-1850, p.286, c.1825
  • Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Printed Textile, Object Number 1959.0084.015, Printed Textiles: British and American Cottons and Linens, 1700-1850, p.307, c. 1830



   ©  Updated 6/28/2020     Author: Terry Terrell