Antique Natural HistoryOriginal plates from the naturalists' books, 1600s to 1900s
Botanical Illustration of White Turmeric (Curcuma zedoaria) by Blackwell, 1696
Botanical Illustration of White Turmeric (Curcuma zedoaria) by Blackwell, 1696, view 2
Botanical Illustration of White Turmeric (Curcuma zedoaria) by Blackwell, 1696, view 3

Close-ups

Botanical Illustration of White Turmeric (Curcuma zedoaria) by Blackwell, 1696, close-up 1Botanical Illustration of White Turmeric (Curcuma zedoaria) by Blackwell, 1696, close-up 2Botanical Illustration of White Turmeric (Curcuma zedoaria) by Blackwell, 1696, close-up 3Botanical Illustration of White Turmeric (Curcuma zedoaria) by Blackwell, 1696, close-up 4Botanical Illustration of White Turmeric (Curcuma zedoaria) by Blackwell, 1696, close-up 5

Framed and on the wall

Botanical Illustration of White Turmeric (Curcuma zedoaria) by Blackwell, 1696, shown framedBotanical Illustration of White Turmeric (Curcuma zedoaria) by Blackwell, 1696, shown framed on a wallBotanical Illustration of White Turmeric (Curcuma zedoaria) by Blackwell, 1696, shown framed in a room

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

Botanical Illustration of White Turmeric (Curcuma zedoaria) by Blackwell, 1696

£370 ($490, €440)

Period original, not a reproduction.

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Shipped from the Netherlands, flat, insured and tracked, worldwide. Returns accepted within 14 days.

Date
1696
Size
16.1 × 10 in (41 × 25.3 cm)
Condition
Good. Good, given age. A few spots in the margins. General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Please study scan carefully.
Period
Before 1700
Section
Botanical
Reference
f_41503912

This antique print, titled "Zedoaria," depicts the Curcuma zedoaria, also known as zedoary, white turmeric, or kentjur. The plant is a member of the ginger family, known for its medicinal and culinary uses, particularly in traditional Asian medicine. Zedoary has a bitter taste and is often used to treat digestive issues.

Curcuma zedoaria or Kurkuma, or white turmeric, is special due to its medicinal properties and versatility. It has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine for treating digestive disorders, inflammation, and as a natural antiseptic. The rhizome is also used in Asian cooking for its peppery, bitter flavor.

White turmeric grows primarily in tropical and subtropical regions of India, Indonesia, and Southeast Asia, where it thrives in well-drained soils with plenty of humidity and rainfall. Its global usage highlights its value in both culinary and medicinal fields.

This print was made by Elizabeth Blackwell, a pioneering Scottish botanical illustrator, for her famous work "A Curious Herbal", published between 1737 and 1739, which documented many exotic medicinal plants for use by physicians and apothecaries.