This deservedly-popular series of dimensional botanical plaques by Connoisseur of Malvern comprised eight limited edition issues, each portraying a flower mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays. All measure approximately 9” x 12” (23.5 cm x 29.5 cm), were designed by Diane Lewis. Two plaques were issued each year from 1981 through 1984, and were sold mounted and framed as shown. The backstamp identifies each as a part of this series and includes the quote upon which the study is based; a certificate accompanied each, as in the example shown below.

The quotes shown for each are the ones shown on that plaque’s backstamp.

Limited Editions of 50

 

Wild Rose was issued in 1984 and was priced at $635 by 1987. Its original issue price was probably $550.
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other word would smell as sweet – Romeo and Juliet

 

 

Cowslips was issued in 1982 at $550.
Where the bee sucks, there suck I. In a cowslip’s bell I lie – The Tempest

 

 

Columbines was a 1984 issue, probably at $550 because its 1987 retail price was $635.
I am that flower…that columbine – Love’s Labour’s Lost

 

 

Honeysuckle was issued in 1982 at $550.
So doth the woodbine, the sweet honeysuckle, gently entwist.. – A Midsummer Night’s Dream

 

 

Primroses was one of the 1983 issues, at $550.
And in the wood, where often you and I upon faint primrose-beds were wont to lie.. A Midsummer Night’s Dream

 

 

Daisies also appeared in 1983, for $550.
When daisies pied, and violets blue
And lady-smocks all silver-white
And cuckoo-buds of yellow hue,
Do paint the meadows with delight – Loves Labours Lost

 

Limited Editions of 100

‘Harebells’ and ‘Violets’ were the two limited editions of 100 plaques, and began the series in 1981. The subsequent series issues were, as shown above, smaller editions of 50. A bit of an oddity is their backstamps are missing a needed apostrophe: they read “Shakespeares Flowers” instead of “Shakespeare’s Flowers”. The certificate is in the correct format.

 

 

Harebells had an issue price of $500. This plant is the wild harebell, Scilla nutans, also called wild hyacinth. Several spring-blooming blue “bell” wildflowers are variously called bluebell, harebell, or hyacinth in both the UK and USA. The genus Scilla contains white and pink flower forms as well as blue.
Thou shalt not lack the flower that’s like thy face, pale primrose, nor the azur’d harebell, like thy veins – Cymbeline

 

 

 

Violets was also $500 at issuance.
I know a bank where the wild thyme blows, where oxlips and the nodding violet grows – A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Additonal examples of these lovely dimensional plaques can be seen within the Botanical Plaques category of the Archive.

Name index of sculptures and plaques referenced on this site
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