Antique Sugarcane Chromolithograph, Teboe Rapooh and Teboe Merah, 1892
Description This large chromolithographic plate illustrates two distinct sugarcane varieties 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 standard of late nineteenth-century agricultural illustration, combining careful scientific observation with strong visual presence.
The sheet contains Plates XI and XII, depicting Teboe Rapooh and Teboe Merah. Teboe Rapooh is shown in muted green-brown tones with clearly articulated nodes, while Teboe Merah, literally meaning “red cane,” is rendered in deep reddish-brown hues that distinguish it strongly from other varieties in the series. Both canes are shown in full height against a plain background, emphasizing differences in colour, surface texture, and segmentation.
These plates were produced during a period of systematic botanical research in the Dutch East Indies, when sugarcane cultivation was of major agricultural and economic importance. Soltwedel’s atlas of plates was issued separately from the accompanying text and is now increasingly scarce, particularly in well-preserved condition.
With its tall vertical format and rich, contrasting colour palette, this plate has strong decorative impact and is suitable both for collectors of botanical or colonial material and for interior designers seeking large-scale historical imagery with warmth and depth. Companion plates from the same series depicting additional sugarcane varieties are also available; a combined offer can be arranged.
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 protect the original margins.
Technique: Chromolithography Maker: W. A. Meyn after F. Soltwedel, Berlin, 1892
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