Floral Motifs on Early Chintz
Disocactus flagelliformis - Rattail Cactus 
Disocactus flagelliformis (Rattail Cactus) from the International Quilt Museum,  Bars and Flying Geese Chintz Quilt, c. 1830-1850  In this image the cactus is entwined with Erica sp. (Heath).
Disocactus flagelliformis (Rattail Cactus) from Curtis's Botanical Magazine, Vol. 1, Plate 17, 1790
Disocactus flagelliformis (Rattail Cactus) photo courtesy Kara Nursery
Common Names: Rattail Cactus, Rat-Tail Cactus, Rat Tail Cactus, Creeping Cereus, Small Creeping Cereus  
 
Description: Disocactus flagelliformis (Rattail Cactus) is a member of the Cactaceae (Cactus) family. The Hortus Kewensis, ed. 2, Vol. 3 recorded this native of Peru was first cultivated in Europe in 1690. Curtis's Botanical Magazine, Vol. 1, plate 17 recorded it as a native of South America and the West Indies.

Quilts with this Disocactus flagelliformis (Rattail Cactus) motif: 
  • International Quilt Museum,  Bars and Flying Geese Chintz Quilt, Object Number 1997.007.0486, c 1830-1850
  • Charleston Museum, Gracy Drummond Quilt, Object Number2011.26.1, dated 1844- 1845
  • Private Collection of Lenna DeMarco, Center Medallion Mosaic Quilt, dated 1839
  • Poos Collection, House in the Woods Diamond in a Square Quilt, Chintz Quilts from the Poos Collection, p. 152, c 1820 
Chintz with this Disocactus flagelliformis (Rattail Cactus) motif: 
  • None known at this time
Disocactus flagelliformis (Rattail Cactus) from the International Quilt Museum, Bars and Flying Geese Chintz Quilt, c. 1830-1850
Quilts with this Disocactus flagelliformis (Rattail Cactus) motif: 
  • International Quilt Museum,  Bars and Flying Geese Chintz Quilt, Object Number 1997.007.0486, c 1830-1850
  • The Hermitage, Entwined Stem Cactus Motif Whole-cloth Quilt, Object Number H1901.09.002, no date
  • Mr. and Mrs. John M. Glenn Private Collection, Tree of Life Center Medallion Appliqué Quilt, Old Quilts, plate 70, p. 185, no date
Chintz with this Disocactus flagelliformis (Rattail Cactus) motif:
  • The Hermitage, Five Entwined Stem Cactus Motif Curtain Panels Repurposed From Another Use, Object Number H1901.09.001, no date
The block printed Disocactus flagelliformis (Rattail Cactus) from the International Quilt Museum, Bars and Flying Geese Chintz Quilt, c. 1830-1850
In this motif the Disocactus is entwinted with Heath (Erica sp.) stems and both are block printed.  It is known to have been printed on either a fancy machine background as shown in the above picture or on a plain white background.*  
 
Quilts with this Disocactus flagelliformis (Rattail Cactus) motif: 
  • International Quilt Museum,  Bars and Flying Geese Chintz Quilt, Object Number 1997.007.0486, c 1830-1850
  • The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Sophia Myers Pearce Quilt, Object Number 1996.0011, c 1830-1840 
  • Philadelphia Museum of Art, Sarah Flickwir Quilt, Object Number 1952.63.1, dated 1841-1846 
  • Maryland Historical Society, Mrs. Elizabeth Clark Appliqué Quilt, Object Number 1964.24.1, The Baltimore Album Quilt Tradition, pp. 58-59. c 1840   
  • Charleston Museum, Chintz Appliqué Quilt Square, Object Number 2009.5.1a, part of a collection dated 1853-1855 
  • Chintz Appliqué Quilt in the style of Amelia Lauck, possibly made in Winchester Virginia, offered by Crocker Farm Auction House on September 15, 2012, Lot 254, c 1840
  • Private Collection of Stella Rubin,  CenterMedallion Quilt, The American Quilt, p. 79, c 1825-1850 
  • Private Collection of Beverly Hume Selmeski, Sarah Logan Quilt, dated May 1845
  • Andalusia Foundation, Appliqué Tree of Life Coverlet, c 1820 no date 
  • Ownership not stated, Appliqué Quilt Made by Miss Scott, Old Quilts, p. 183, Plate 68, “probably 1810” 
  • Private Collection of Mrs. Adams- Coffyn, Appliqué Coverlet, Old Quilts, p. 196, Plate78, no date
The cylinder printed Disocactus flagelliformis (Rattail Cactus) from the Private Collection, Touching Stars Quilt Fragment, c. 1828-1838 
The cylinder printed Disocactus flagelliformis (Rattail Cactus) from the Private Collection, "Tree of Life Center Medallion Frame Quilt with Blue Jays", dated 1845 
The cylinder printed Disocactus flagelliformis (Rattail Cactus) from the Private Collection, Light Green and Brown Cactus Print Large Fragment, c. 1827-1838
In this motif the Disocactus is again entwinted with Heath (Erica sp.) stems. The pictures above are three of the five different colorways know from this fully cylinder printed copy version of the preceeding motif.  Fully cylinder printed copies were probably made to sell at a cheaper price than the partially block printed version above.  There are only very small differences in the two different versions making them difficult to differentiate at a casual glance.  The remaining two colorways are a tan and brown version minus the penciled indigo highlights of the center picture and a darker green and brown version of the picture on the far right.  The cylinder printed version was printed on a variety of machine backgrounds.*

Quilts with the cylinder printed Disocactus flagelliformis (Rattail Cactus) motif: 
 
  • International Quilt Museum, Touching Stars Quilt Made by Lucretia Larison, Object Number 2002.007.0001, dated 1841 
  • The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Indigo Resist Panel Quilt with Cactus Print Border, Object Number 1969.3564, c. 1825-1850 
  • Fourth Corner Fine Quilt Gallery (sold), Wholecloth 4-Poster Bed Quilt, date uncertain 
  • Philadelphia Museum of Art, Sarah Flickwir Quilt, Object Number 1952-63-1, dated 1841-1846
  •  Daughters of the American Revolution Museum, Framed Center Medallion Counterpane, Object Number 3788, c. 1840-1850
  • Strong Museum of Play, Sarah Gamble Quilt, Object ID 80.33, dated 1848
  • Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History, Adaline Lusby’s Appliquéd Quilt, Catalog Number T10347, c. 1837-1838 
  • Private Collection, Triple Irish Chain Quilt with Red Cactus flowers, no date 
  • Private Collection, Massachusetts Pieced Stars Quilt, c. 1845
  • Private Collection, Wholecloth Quilt with Cactus Print Backing, no date 
  • Private Collection, "Tree of Life Center Medallion Frame Quilt with Blue Jays", Blanket Statements 130 (Fall 2017):1, dated 1845 
  • Private Collection, Touching Stars Quilt Fragment, date uncertain but probably c. 1827-1840 

Chintz with the cylinder printed Disocactus flagelliformis (Rattail Cactus): 
 
  • The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Fabric Fragment, Object Number 1969.3124, c 1830-1870 
  • The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Fabric Fragment, Object Number 1969.3126.001, c 1830-1870
  • The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Fabric Fragment, Object Number 1969.3126.002, c 1830-1870 
  • Private Collection, Light Green and Brown Cactus Print Small Fragment, c. 1827-1838
  • Private Collection, Light Green and Brown Cactus Print Large Fragment, c. 1827-1838
  • Cactus Print Fabric Fragment, offered for sale by Pique Fabrics at the American Quilt Study Group 2018 Seminar October 3-7, 2018, Bethesda, Maryland
 

Quilt with a Disocactus flagelliformis (Rattail Cactus) motif, but whether it is the block printed motif or the cylinder printed motif is unclear due to wear and poor picture quality: 
 
  • Ownership not stated, Quilt Top made for Rev. Thomas Wheeler in Charles Town, VA (now WV), Old Quilts, p. 44, Plate 7, dated 1847
Disocactus flagelliformis (Rattail Cactus) from the International Quilt Museum, Mary Yeadon Album Quilt, dated 1848-1849
Quilts with this Disocactus flagelliformis (Rattail Cactus) motif: 
  • International Quilt Museum, Mary Yeadon Album Quilt, Object Number2006.003.0005, dated 1848-1849
  • Charleston Museum, Mary Lucy Sandiford Barnes Chintz Appliqué Quilt, Shelving Locator HT 591, dated 1854
  • Charleston Museum, Emily Nancy Ballard McDow Chintz Appliqué Quilt, Charleston, Shelving Locator HT 589, dated 1852
  • Kansas State Historical Society, Friendship Quilt, Object Number 1924.22.1, c. 1845-1865
Chintz with this Disocactus flagelliformis (Rattail Cactus) motif: 
  • The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Printed Textile, Object Number 1961.0232, c. 1850
Disocactus flagelliformis (Rattail Cactus) from the Private Collection, French Block Printed Disocactus and Tropical Motifs Chintz Fabric Fragment, no date
Chintz with this Disocactus flagelliformis (Rattail Cactus) motif: 
  • Private Collection, French Block Printed Disocactus and Tropical Motifs Chintz Fabric Fragment, no date
Victoria and Albert Museum, Design for a Printed Cotton by William Kilburn, c. 1788-1792
Pattern for a printed chintz with this Disocactus flagelliformis (Rattail Cactus) motif: 
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Design for a Printed Cotton by William Kilburn, Object Number E. 894:84-1978, c. 1788-1792
Victoria and Albert Museum, Design for a Printed Cotton by William Kilburn, c. 1788-1792
Pattern for a printed chintz with this Disocactus flagelliformis (Rattail Cactus) motif: 
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Design for a Printed Cotton by William Kilburn, Object Number E. 894:21-1978, c. 1788-1792
* See Terry Tickhill Terrell, "Prickly Elegance: Identifying and Dating Disocactus Motifs on Early Chintz," Uncoverings 40 (2019): 7-48 for more details about the block and the cylinder printed motifs.




   ©  Updated 3/22/2020     Author: Terry Terrell