Vintage Botanical Print No. 92
Buy this print on Etsy →A regal beauty of a botanical plate, this is the bearded iris (Iris germanica) from the celebrated German reference 'Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen' (Köhler's Medicinal Plants), published in the 1880s. Deep violet-purple blooms, with their velvety falls and golden beards, rise on tall stems above sword-shaped leaves, while fine studies along the plate detail the flower, rhizome and seed. It is one of the most elegant and richly coloured of all the old medicinal illustrations.
The iris has been treasured for thousands of years - named for the Greek goddess of the rainbow, adopted as the fleur-de-lis of French royalty, and prized in the apothecary for its fragrant rootstock, 'orris root,' long used in medicine and perfumery. That is exactly why it earned a place in Köhler's great catalogue of healing plants, here shown in the classic German scientific-illustration style, classified among the family Iridaceae.
'Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen' set the gold standard for botanical art, its chromolithographs combining the accuracy a pharmacist needed with a natural grace that still stops people in their tracks. Each plate shows the whole living plant alongside the tiny anatomical details, a format that reads beautifully as modern wall art.
And as wall art this one is quietly luxurious. The rich purples and greens against warm aged paper bring instant elegance to a space. It is a natural for a bedroom, living room, bathroom or dressing room, and it slots effortlessly into cottagecore, romantic, botanical and classic interiors. It looks wonderful grouped with other Köhler or floral plates, and it makes a lovely gift for gardeners, flower lovers and anyone drawn to vintage botanical decor.
Because the original was published in the 1880s, it now sits firmly in the public domain, which is why we can reproduce it at full museum quality.
Each print is produced on premium 189 gsm museum-grade archival matte paper, faithfully capturing the rich violet blooms, fine detail and soft warmth of the antique paper - ready to frame and enjoy for years to come.
