ARTS & CRAFT — FLORA'S FEAST

Crane, Walter (1845–1915)

Flora’s Feast: A Masque of Flowers - Hollyhock [Original Chromolithographic Matted Plate from the First Edition]

An original color plate from Walter Crane’s celebrated Arts & Crafts picture book Flora’s Feast, issued as part of the 1892 first edition. Designed as a self-contained visual poem, this plate exemplifies Crane’s distinctive decorative line, medievalizing figures, and stylized botanical symbolism that made the book a landmark of late Victorian illustration.

KEY FEATURES
+++ Visuals: Original multi-color chromolithograph depicting the flower personification ‘Canterbury Bells’, rendered in Crane’s characteristic linear style with flat color fields and rhythmic ornament.
+++ Printing: Chromolithography, printed from multiple stones to achieve layered color, typical of Cassell’s high-quality Victorian color work.
+++ Artist: Walter Crane, central figure of the Arts & Crafts movement and one of the most influential British illustrators of the late 19th century.
+++ Source: Plate issued in Flora’s Feast: A Masque of Flowers, first published in 1892. Plate 34 : Hollyhock.
+++ Presentation: Plate measuring approximately 7.5 x 9 inches, professionally matted in a complementary period-appropriate tone to an overall size of 11 x 14 inches, housed in a clear protective sleeve.
+++ Rarity: Uncommon as an intact decorative plate in clean condition; more commonly encountered bound within the book.
+++ Subject: An anthropomorphic representation of a hollyhock plant, depicted as a knight in floral armor holding a standard high.
+++ Text: The illustration includes the poem: "The Hollyhock his standard high / Bears proudly to / the autumn sky".
+++ Style: The work showcases Crane's detailed line work and decorative aesthetic typical of late Victorian children's literature.

CONDITION: Very Good+ -- Clean impression with strong color and no visible losses. Light, even age-toning consistent with late 19th-century plate paper. Mat and sleeve clean and presentable, ready for display or framing.
+++ London: Cassell & Company, 1892. Original chromolithographic illustration on plate paper.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE —
Walter Crane was among the most influential designers and illustrators of the Victorian period, closely associated with the Arts & Crafts movement and the revival of decorative book design. His work bridged fine art, illustration, and social idealism, emphasizing beauty, craftsmanship, and accessibility.

Flora’s Feast stands as one of Crane’s most enduring illustrated books, admired for its synthesis of poetry, costume, and botanical allegory. Individual plates such as this one allow collectors to experience Crane’s work as standalone decorative objects, appealing equally to book collectors, print collectors, and interior designers seeking authentic period illustration.

SUBJECTS: Walter Crane, Arts and Crafts movement, Victorian illustration, Botanical allegory, Decorative book illustration, Canterbury Bells, Chromolithography Decorative Print, Book Illustration, Arts and Crafts, Victorian Art.

Item #21999

Price: $40.00