Berthe Hoola van Nooten, Namnam Tree, 1880, Chromolithograph

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Original antique botanical chromolithograph of namnam tree, c. 1880 a fascinating original antique botanical chromolithograph depicting cynometra cauliflora l., commonly … Read more Original antique botanical chromolithograph of namnam tree, c. 1880 a fascinating original antique botanical chromolithograph depicting cynometra cauliflora l., commonly known as the namnam tree or cat's face fruit. One of the most unusual tropical fruit trees of southeast asia, the species is celebrated for its remarkable cauliflorous habit, producing flowers and distinctive kidney-shaped fruits directly from the trunk and older branches rather than from the tips of the stems. Native to indonesia, malaysia and neighboring tropical regions, the namnam tree has long been cultivated both as an ornamental curiosity and for its edible fruits, whose pleasantly tart flesh is enjoyed fresh or used in preserves and traditional cuisine. The extraordinary growth habit makes it one of the most visually distinctive trees in the tropical world. The composition beautifully illustrates the rough-barked trunk bearing mature fruits together with delicate pink blossoms and botanical studies of the flower, fruit and seed. The unusual arrangement of the fruiting trunk, combined with the refined botanical details, makes this one of the most intriguing and scientifically important plates from berthe hoola van nooten's celebrated publication. The artwork was painted from life on the island of java by the distinguished dutch botanical artist berthe hoola van nooten (1817–1892). It was published in her masterpiece, fleurs, fruits et feuillages choisis de l'ile de java, widely regarded as one of the finest nineteenth-century botanical publications devoted to the flora of the dutch east indies. Printed in vibrant chromolithography by p. De pannemaeker of ghent, this plate was issued in the third edition published in brussels by librairie européenne c. Muquardt around 1880. Today, the namnam tree remains one of the botanical highlights of southeast asia because of its highly unusual trunk-borne fruit. This original antique print combines scientific importance with outstanding decorative appeal and is a superb example of victorian botanical art. This is an original antique print, printed circa 1880, and not a modern reproduction or later copy. Artist: berthe hoola van nooten (1817–1892) publication: fleurs, fruits et feuillages choisis de l'ile de java publisher: librairie européenne c. Muquardt, brussels printer: p. De pannemaeker, ghent date: circa 1880 medium: original chromolithograph on wove paper. Condition: good antique condition with age-related toning, occasional foxing and light handling wear consistent with age. Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form part of the . Please note that any framed images are for display inspiration only. The print is sold unframed. Framed mock-ups are not always shown to exact scale and are intended solely to illustrate how the artwork may look when displayed. Keywords original antique print, original chromolithograph, botanical print, cynometra cauliflora, namnam tree, cat's face fruit, cauliflory, trunk fruit, tropical fruit tree, exotic fruit, southeast asian flora, indonesian botanical art, java, dutch east indies, berthe hoola van nooten, victorian botanical illustration, nineteenth century botanical print, antique botanical wall art, natural history print, scientific illustration, p. De pannemaeker, muquardt brussels, museum quality botanical art, rare botanical print, collectible botanical print, circa 1880 the namnam tree is a particularly interesting botanical subject because of its rare cauliflorous growth habit. While it is less familiar than cacao or mangosteen, its unusual appearance makes it highly appealing to collectors of exotic tropical botany, justifying a premium mid-tier price. See less