Floral Motifs on Early Chintz
Lilium superbum - Turk's Cap Lily
Lilium superbum (Turk's Cap Lily) from Thornton, R.J., New illustration of the sexual system of Carolus von Linnaeus and the temple of Flora, or garden of nature, 1807
Lilium superbum (Turk's Cap Lily) growing in modern garden.
Lilium superbum (Turk's Cap Lily) on the Victoria and Albert Museum, Furnishing Fabric Center Panel by John Bury, c. 1815. Small Turk's Cap Lily top and large Turk's Cap Lilies bottom from the same piece.
Common Names: Turk's cap lily, superb martagon lily, turban lily, swamp lily, lily royal, American tiger lily 
 
Description: The Lilium superbum (Turk's Cap Lily) is a member of the Lily Family (Liliaceae). The Hortus Kewensis, ed. 2, vol. 2 records that this native of North America was introduced into cultivation in England before 1727. 
 
Quilts with this Lilium superbum (Turk's Cap Lily) motif: 
 
  • Colonial Williamsburg, Petersburg Appliqued Quilt by the Boyle Sisters, Accession Number 1991-644, Four Centuries of Quilts: The Colonial Williamsburg Collection, p. 102, c. 1840 
  • Private collection of Parks Hutchinson Dalton, Central Medallion Quilt Made by Ann Adeline Orr Parks in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, North Carolina Quilts, p. 49, c. 1826 
  • Private Collection of Martha Laird Harris Washam, Medallion Quilt Made by Elizabeth Brice Cochrane Harris (Gingles) in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, North Carolina Quilts, p. 53, c. 1830-1840 
  • Private Collection of Mary Ann Young, Central Diamond Medallion Quilt Made by Mary Ann Young in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, North Carolina Quilts, p. 54-55, c. 1830-1840 
  • Private Collection of Virginia Williams Kennickell, Medallion Quilt, Maker Unknown, North Carolina Quilts, p. 62, c. 1830-1840 
 
Chintz with this Lilium superbum (Turk's Cap Lily) motif: 
 
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Furnishing Fabric Center Panel by John Bury, Circ.606-1956, c. 1815 
  • Panel 1 in Appendix I of Merikay Waldvogel, "Printed Panels for Chintz Quilts: Their Origin and Use," Uncoverings 34 (2013): 124
Additional Lilium superbum (Turk's Cap Lily) Motifs
Lilium superbum (Turk's Cap Lily) motif from the Victoria and Albert Museum, Princess Charlotte Marriage Commemorative Panel, T.293-1913, c. 1816
Quilts with this Lilium superbum (Turk's Cap Lily) motif: 
 
  • The Castle Museum, York, England, Appliqued Coverlet Commemorating the Marriage of Princess Charlotte, The Quilts of the British Isles, p. 86, c. 1820 
  • New England Quilt Museum, Princess Charlotte Commemorative Quilt, Object Number1991.13, The New England Quilt Museum Quilts, p. 31, 1820-1840 
 
Chintz with this Lilium superbum (Turk's Cap Lily) motif: 
 
  • The Victoria and Albert Museum, Princess Charlotte Marriage Commemorative Panel, T.293-1913, c. 1816 
  • Panel 21 in Appendix II of Merikay Waldvogel, "Printed Panels for Chintz Quilts: Their Origin and Use," Uncoverings 34 (2013): 125 
Lilium superbum (Turk's Cap Lily) from the Victoria and Albert Museum, Furnishing Fabric Fragment, CIRC.229-1956, printed in 1805
Chintz with this Lilium superbum (Turk's Cap Lily) motif: 
 
  • The Victoria and Albert Museum, Furnishing Fabric Fragment, CIRC.229-1956, printed in 1805
Lilium superbum (Turk's Cap Lily) from the Private Collection, Floral English Chintz Fabric Fragment, c. 1830
Chintz with this Lilium superbum (Turk's Cap Lily) motif: 
 
  • Private Collection, English Floral Chintz Fabric Fragment, c. 1830 
Lilium superbum (Turk's Cap Lily) motif from Museum Quality Early Chintz Broderie Perse Applique Quilt with Birds, Sold by Ebay Seller French72 in July, 2017, c. 1830
Chintz with this Lilium superbum (Turk's Cap Lily) motif: 
 
  • Museum Quality Early Chintz Broderie Perse Applique Quilt with Birds, Sold by Ebay Seller French72 in July, 2017, c. 1830 
Lilium superbum (Turk's Cap Lily) motif from Private Collection, French Indienne style cotton-linen lily fragment, c. 1850
Chintz with this Lilium superbum (Turk's Cap Lily) motif: 
 
  • Private Collection, French Indienne style cotton-linen lily fragment, c. 1850
Lilium superbum (Turk's Cap Lily) motif from Victoria and Albert Museum, Printed Cotton, c.1770s
Printed Cotton with this Lilium superbum (Turk's Cap Lily) motif: 
 
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Printed Cotton, T.29-1966,c.1770s
                                 More Lilium superbum (Turk's Cap Lily) Motifs

                                                             (No pictures available at this time) 
 

Quilts with the same Lilium superbum (Turk's Cap Lily) motif as the chintz listed below: 
 
  • Private Collection of Catherine Janet Strauss, Fancy Appliqued Quilt with Scroll Border, A Maryland Album: Quiltmaking Traditions - 1634-1934, p. 55, c. 1840 
  • Old Sturbridge Village, Tree of Life Center Medallion Quilt, Northern Comfort: New England's Early Quilts, 1780-1850, p. 31, C. 1820 
 
Chintz with the same Lilium superbum (Turk's Cap Lily) motif: 
 
Panel 17 in Appendix I of Merikay Waldvogel, "Printed Panels for Chintz Quilts: Their Origin and Use," Uncoverings 34 (2013): 124
©  Updated 7/13/2025    Author: Terry Terrell