Antique Sugarcane Chromolithograph, Teboe Keong, Java 1892
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 exemplifies the high technical and artistic standards of late nineteenth-century agricultural illustration.
The sheet illustrates Plate XV, Teboe Keong. The cane is shown in full height against a plain background, allowing close study of its deep reddish-brown coloration, segmented structure, and pronounced nodes. The careful rendering of surface texture and colour variation reflects the scientific purpose of the series, while also giving the image strong visual presence.
These plates were created during a period of systematic botanical research in the Dutch East Indies, when sugarcane was of major agricultural and economic importance. Soltwedel’s atlas of plates was issued separately from the accompanying text volume and is now scarce, especially in well-preserved condition.
With its tall vertical format and dark, rich palette, this plate works well both as a collector’s item and as a statement piece for interior display, particularly in settings related to botany, agriculture, colonial history, or tropical themes. Companion plates from the same series depicting other sugarcane varieties are also available.
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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