Antique Natural HistoryOriginal plates from the naturalists' books, 1600s to 1900s
Antique Wheat and Barley Botanical Plates, Agricultural Crops, Calwer 1852
Antique Wheat and Barley Botanical Plates, Agricultural Crops, Calwer 1852, view 2
Antique Wheat and Barley Botanical Plates, Agricultural Crops, Calwer 1852, view 3
Antique Wheat and Barley Botanical Plates, Agricultural Crops, Calwer 1852, view 4

Framed and on the wall

Antique Wheat and Barley Botanical Plates, Agricultural Crops, Calwer 1852, shown framedAntique Wheat and Barley Botanical Plates, Agricultural Crops, Calwer 1852, shown framed on a wallAntique Wheat and Barley Botanical Plates, Agricultural Crops, Calwer 1852, shown framed in a room

Frame and rooms are illustrations of how the print could look; the description says what is included.

Antique Wheat and Barley Botanical Plates, Agricultural Crops, Calwer 1852

£195 ($260, €230)

Period original, not a reproduction.

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Date
1852
Size
10.4 × 8.3 in (26.5 × 21 cm)
Condition
Good. Wear consistent with age and use. Condition report: Even overall toning with minor spotting. Margins show light wear. Good clarity and well-preserved coloring.
Period
Late 19th century
Artist or book
Calwer's Käferbuch
Section
Botanical
Reference
f_48104992

Antique Wheat and Barley Botanical Plates, Agricultural Crops, Calwer 1852

This refined group of three original hand-colored lithographs illustrates wheat and barley varieties from Carl Gustav Calwer’s agricultural atlas, published in Stuttgart in 1852. The plates focus on cereal ears and grain structure, emphasizing botanical distinctions crucial to 19th-century farming and crop selection.

The compositions are elegant and rhythmic, with repeated vertical forms that create a calm, almost minimalist visual effect. Fine lines and soft coloring highlight the structure of each ear without excess detail, making the images surprisingly modern in appearance.

These plates are especially attractive for contemporary interiors, architectural spaces, or educational settings. They bridge science and design, offering historical depth while remaining visually understated.

Grouped together, the plates form a strong decorative set with excellent balance and consistency.

Condition report: Even overall toning with minor spotting. Margins show light wear. Good clarity and well-preserved coloring.

Framing tips: Frame individually and hang as a triptych. Natural wood or matte black frames with generous white mats enhance their verticality.

Technique: Hand-colored lithograph

Maker: Carl Gustav Calwer, Stuttgart, 1852