School and family charts, No. XXI. botanical: economical uses of plants (c.1890) print by Marcius Willson and Norman A. Calkins

School and Family Charts, No. XXI — Botanical: Economical Uses of Plants (c. 1890) — Marcius Willson & Norman A. Calkins

A Victorian classroom on your wall. This richly printed didactic chart surveys how plants sustain daily life—foods, fibres, dyes, medicines, timbers, resins—grouped and labelled with crisp period typography. It’s equal parts science, history, and ornament: knowledge beautifully arranged.

Why it captivates

• Victorian pedagogy, elegantly designed — a teaching aid that doubles as decor.

• Clear taxonomic layout — categories of plant uses organised at a glance.

• Typographic charm — classic lettering and caption styles from c. 1890.

• Conversation starter — bridges botany, industry, and social history.

• Warm, study-friendly palette — creams, greens, and inks that suit libraries and kitchens.

• Statement artwork — scholarly yet inviting focal point.

What you’ll see

A gridded composition of panels and labels detailing plant-derived staples and materials—from cereals and spices to textile fibres, dye plants, pharmacological species, and woods. Up close: fine linework and archival textures. From a step back: a cohesive, museum-style wall chart.

A richer historical frame

Issued c. 1890 for schoolrooms and family study, the Willson & Calkins chart series reflected a late-19th-century push to visualise practical science. This plate on plants’ economical uses connects botany to everyday manufacture and trade—capturing a world before synthetics remade the materials economy.

Choose your finish

🌟 Heavyweight Paper (160 gsm matte)
Archival-grade, smooth matte stock ideal for framing under glass. Crisp linework, minimal glare.

💎 Laminated (True Encapsulation)
Sealed in 2 × 80-micron gloss laminate, edge-to-edge. Durable, wipe-clean—perfect for busy spaces.

🪵 Laminated + Timber Hang Rails (Ready to hang)
Lacquered natural timber rails with fitted hanging cord; no frame required.
Please allow up to 10 working days for hang-railed delivery.

🏆 Archival Canvas (395 gsm HP Professional Matte)
Museum-quality texture with pigment-based, fade-resistant inks for rich tone and fine detail.

🪵 Canvas + Timber Hang Rails (Gallery-ready)
As above, supplied with lacquered natural timber rails and hanging cord.
Please allow up to 10 working days for hang-railed delivery.

Size (W × H)

621 × 841 mm (approx. 24.45 × 33.11 in)

• Orientation: Portrait

• Aspect ratio: ~0.738 : 1

• Nearest standard frame: 70 × 100 cm (portrait) with mat (A1 is too narrow)

• Framing tips:

  • Classic look: cut the mat window to ~617 × 837 mm for a neat 2–3 mm overlap.

  • Contemporary look: float-mount in a larger frame for a clean gallery reveal.

Custom sizing: Available on request (alternative aspect ratios or added white border).

Specifications

Who it’s for

• Educators & students of botany, history, and design

• Home libraries & studies seeking scholarly warmth

• Cafés and kitchens celebrating plant-based staples

• Collectors of scientific illustration and vintage charts

• Gift-givers with a taste for curious, educational art

Our Commitment

Every print is produced locally in Australia on premium substrates with careful colour management, then checked and packed by hand so it arrives ready to impress. From studio to wall, we stand behind the craftsmanship and historical integrity of your piece.

Bring Victorian science and everyday botany into your space—order your fine-art print of School and Family Charts, No. XXI today.