Floral Motifs on Early Chintz
Asparagus sp. - Asparagus
Asparagus sp. (Asparagus) from the Private Collection, Irregular Fabric Fragments, c. 1830 
Asparagus officinalis (Asparagus) Elizabeth Blackwell, A Curious Herbal, plate 332, 1737 (Elizabeth Blackwell / Public domain)  
Asparagus officinalis (Asparagus), a public domain image by AnRo0002 / CC0
Common Names: Asparagus
 
Description: Asparagus sp. (Asparagus) is a member of the Asparagus Family (Asparagaceae). The Hortus Kewensis, ed. 2, vol. 2 lists 14 species with Asparagus officinalis (garden asparagus) native to England and others native to the Cape of Good Hope, the West Indies, Africa, Asia, Spain & Portugal, the Levant, and the South of Europe.  The Poos Collection quilt listed below actually shows the plant with red berries, while the remaining examples show the vegetative plant without the berries. 
 

Quilts with this Asparagus sp(Asparagus) motif:  
 
  • Poos Collection, House in the Woods Diamond in a Square Quilt, Chintz Quilts from the Poos Collection, pp. 156-157, c.1820
 
 
Chintz with this Asparagus sp. (Asparagus) 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




  ©  Updated 5/24/2020     Author: Terry Terrell