Estate Find

Baker Knapp & Tubbs

Furniture Company

Nineteenth Century

Botanical Lithographs

Horto Van Houtteano, Belgian (1810-1876)

We offer a framed set of four nineteenth century hand colored lithographs originally printed in "Flore de Serres et des Jardins de l'Europe” published by Horto Van Houtteano in twenty-three volumes from 1845 to 1883.

The four prints were selected by the London firm O’Shea Gallery, specialists in nineteenth century prints, for the decorative arts division of Baker Knapp & Tubbs Furniture Company. The label found on the reverse reads:

VAN HOUTTEANO

Botanical Print in Original Colour.

Published in Flore de Serres et des

Jardins de I' Europe.'

Printed in Brussels circa 1840-1880.

The four prints are titled:

ALSTROEMERIA PERUVIANA

Arner. sud

fol. albo marg

Chassis froid

CENTROPOGON

h l'enezuela

TOVARENSIS

Planch & Lind.

Serre temperen

SALVIA

Mexique

OBTUSA

Mart. & Gal.

Serre tempérée.

LACHENALIA: PENDULA TRICOLOR

Tratt

Cap.

Serre froide

The prints are French matted with marbleized lanes. The gilded wooden frame, glazed, measures 25 1/4” in width and 31 1/4” in height. The four prints measure 6” in width and 9” in height.

The framed botanical prints were originally placed in the McNeil residence by noted interior designer Norman Foster in the 1970s and are presented in very good vintage condition.

A companion framed set of four lithographs is offered on another listing.

Norman Foster, American (1921-2009)

In 1952, Norman Foster opened design studios in Corpus Christi and San Antonio, Texas. His work took him throughout the U.S. and Europe. His design projects were published 35 times in Vogue, Architectural Digest, House and Garden - including the

Paris edition of the HallMark house 1962, House Beautiful - including the Pace Setter House 1961, Town and Country, Texas Monthly, and Interior Design. In 1982 House Beautiful listed him as one of 12 top interior designers internationally.

In 1975 Norman closed his business and moved to the Carmel Highlands to devote full time to his painting and sculpture.

Professional affiliations included American Society of Interior Designers, and he was an Honorary Member of Practicing Designers, London. He is listed in "Who's Who in The Southwest", "Who's Who In Interior Design", "Who's Who in The Pacific

Rim" and "Who's Who In The World."

Provenance

Laurence A. (Larry) McNeil (1921-2004)

and

Kathryn Ruth (Pat) Buttler McNeil (1924-2023)

Larry McNeil was co-founder of Prado Oil & Gas Company, Corpus Christi Oil & Gas Company, and Corpus Christi Exploration Company. Together, Larry and Pat were noted for their bounty of civic and charitable contributions. The Larry and Pat McNeil Foundation was established in 1979 to provide financial assistance for the benefit of charitable, scientific, artistic, literary, healthcare and educational organizations in the Texas Coastal Bend Area.