Antique French Herbarium Specimen | Rosa Stylosa Desv. | Cahors, 1903

Antique French Herbarium Specimen | Rosa Stylosa Desv. | Cahors, 1903

A beautifully preserved original French herbarium specimen documenting Rosa stylosa Desv., carefully collected in the French countryside in 1903. Hand-pressed and mounted more than a century ago, this specimen captures the graceful stems, delicate foliage, and fading blooms of a wild rose in remarkable detail.

Accompanied by its original handwritten identification label, it reflects the meticulous work of early twentieth-century botanists who sought to preserve France's native flora for future study. Collected near Cahors, France, on 25 June 1903, this one-of-a-kind botanical study is both a historical document and a timeless work of natural art.

Country of Origin: Near Cahors, France
Estimated Date: Collected 25 June 1903
Material: Original pressed botanical specimen (Rosa stylosa Desv., variant R. chlorantha), mounted on archival paper with original handwritten identification label; collector V. Boz; part of The French Herbarium Collection
Dimensions: 11" W × 18" H × ¼" D

Condition
Beautiful antique condition, with age-related toning, foxing, and minor imperfections consistent with its age. The original pressed botanical specimen and handwritten identification label remain intact, preserving both its historical provenance and decorative appeal. Please review all photographs carefully, as they form part of the description.

Collected Notes
Herbarium specimens like this one document the careful, methodical work of early twentieth-century French botanists, who pressed, mounted, and labeled native plant specimens for scientific study and preservation. Today, antique herbarium sheets are treasured by collectors and designers alike for their quiet beauty, botanical accuracy, and enduring connection to the natural world, with each specimen offering a genuine, one-of-a-kind record of a specific place and moment in time.

Why We Collected It
We were drawn to this specimen for the graceful, faded form of its wild rose and the wonderful historical detail preserved in its original handwritten label. It is exactly the kind of quietly scholarly botanical piece that brings real depth and history to a room, blending natural beauty with genuine scientific documentation.

Tisbury House Styling Notes
Frame this specimen in natural oak, walnut, or antiqued gilt to highlight its delicate botanical form, and display it alongside other sheets from The French Herbarium Collection for a gallery wall inspired by historic European botanical archives. It pairs beautifully with English country, French provincial, and other collected interiors, bringing warmth and understated elegance wherever it's hung.

*Note: This is an unframed art piece, currently housed in an archival sleeve for protection. Please inquire for pricing on framing options.