Beautifully framed Australian Thysanotus intricatus. Intricate-stemmed Thysanotus, c1840

by Paxton, Joseph

Beautiful antique print of Australian Fringed Lily c1840. Order of Liliaceae, Hexandria Monogynia family. The Thysanotus "genus was primarily constituted by Mr. R. Brown, an eminent English botanist." "Seeds of the T. intricatus were procured from the Swan River Colony some time during the years 1838, and, amongst other collections, some were germinated..".

Original hand-coloured lithograph by Samuel Holden; published in London circa 1840 by Sir Joseph Paxton for Paxton's Magazine of Botany & Flowering Plants. The accompanying text stated that "In conjunction with most other Australian plants, this species delights in a situation well exposed to light and air.. When the specimen is inclined to manifest an extraordinary degree of exuberance, the quality of the earth may be modified.." (The accompanying text is available.)

Sir Joseph Paxton (1803-1865) was a hugely talented man. Starting as a gardener at 15 years of age, with no formal education, his skill and enthusiasm were rewarded by promotion at the age of 23 to Head Gardener of the Duke of Devonshire’s Chatsworth Estate, one of England’s finest gardens. Although considered a landscape gardener, Paxton’s diverse talents gained him a reputation as both an architect and engineer - particularly for his design of glasshouses. His design for the glass house conservatory at Chatsworth served as a model for Paxton’s design of the Crystal Palace for the London Exhibition of 1851. Apparently, after dissention as to choice of design from those submitted by others, Paxton was appealed to. Paxton drew the intricate design for this building in under nine days - and was awarded a knighthood for his achievements.

Size of page 230 x150mm ( 9 x 6 inches). Price is for the antique print only.
[This lovley antique hand-coloured lithograph is very beautiful framed with gilded window-edged gesso mount and French water-gilded moulding, intricately carved with repeat relief leaf motif.]