Vintage Orchid Prints
The golden age of orchid illustration. When Victorian plant-hunters brought the first tropical orchids to Europe, Curtis's Botanical Magazine documented each new species in hand-coloured engraving — cattleyas, moth orchids, lady's slippers, the vanda, and Darwin's famous comet orchid with its foot-long spur. Restored plate by plate from the pre-1929 volumes and offered full-bleed or as a framed specimen with its botanical name. Printed museum-quality on heavyweight matte paper.
23 prints · printed to order on heavyweight matte paper · framed or unframed
Where these come from
Curtis's Botanical Magazine (running since 1787) was the journal that introduced Europe to the orchid. Every tropical species arriving from Brazil, the Himalayas or Madagascar was painted from a living plant by artists like Walter Hood Fitch and Sydenham Edwards. These are those plates, restored from the pre-1929 volumes — the definitive antique orchid art.
Which orchids
Cattleyas (the classic corsage orchid), moth orchids (Phalaenopsis), lady's slippers (Paphiopedilum), the vanda, the dancing-lady (Oncidium), and rarities like Darwin's comet orchid and the dove orchid. Each carries its botanical name and the plate's provenance.
Where they work
Orchids are elegant, architectural and a little exotic — a single one lifts a bathroom, a bedroom or a desk; a trio makes a refined gallery wall (three or more prints take 10% off automatically). Framed or unframed on heavyweight matte paper, free worldwide shipping.