Antique Sugarcane Chromolithograph, Teboe Soerat Mauritius, Java 1892
Description This large chromolithographic plate depicts a single named sugarcane variety cultivated in Java and was published in Berlin in 1892 as part of Friedrich Soltwedel’s botanical study Formen und Farben von Saccharum officinarum L. und verwandten Arten. Produced by W. A. Meyn, the plate reflects the high technical and artistic standards of late nineteenth-century agricultural illustration.
The sheet illustrates Plate XXIV, Teboe Soerat Mauritius. The cane is shown in full height in two examples, rendered in warm brown, red, and olive-green tones with fine longitudinal striping. The clear depiction of nodes, internodes, and surface texture highlights varietal characteristics important for botanical comparison, while the restrained background gives the image a strong graphic presence.
The name “Mauritius” reflects the broader geographic context of nineteenth-century sugarcane research, when varieties from Java, the Indian Ocean, and the wider colonial world were studied comparatively for their agricultural qualities. Soltwedel’s atlas of plates was issued separately from the accompanying text volume and is now scarce, particularly in well-preserved condition.
With its tall vertical format and elegant striped coloration, this plate works equally well as a collector’s item and as a decorative statement piece, especially suited to interiors seeking large-scale botanical imagery with historical depth and rhythm.
Condition report One plate in very good condition for its age. Light, even age toning and minor surface marks consistent with atlas plates. Slight marginal wear. Colours remain well preserved. Plate mark visible. No significant tears or losses.
Framing suggestions Best framed vertically. A dark walnut, ebonized, or muted antique gold frame with an ivory or parchment mat creates a refined, museum-style presentation. Wide matting is recommended to emphasize scale and preserve the original margins.
Technique: Chromolithography Maker: W. A. Meyn after F. Soltwedel, Berlin, 1892
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