Blossom Gallery

Japanese warrior woman with naginata

Japanese warrior woman with a large Naginata. A naginata is a pole weapon that was traditionally used in Japan by members of the samurai class. It consists of a wood shaft with a curved blade on the end, similar to the Chinese Guan Dao or European glaive or Russian sovnya. Usually it also had a sword-like guard (tsuba) between the blade and shaft as depicted on this card. During the Edo Period, as the naginata became less useful for men on the battlefield, and became a symbol of the social status of women of the samurai class. A functional naginata was often a traditional part of a samurai daughter's dowry. Women of the samurai class were expected to be capable of defending their homes while their husbands were away at war!

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10417767

Aster or Star Plant, Victorian Botanical Illustration

Very Rare, Beautifully Illustrated Antique Engraved Victorian Botanical Illustration of Aster or Star Plant, Victorian Botanical Illustration Plate 56, from The Book of Practical Botany in Word and Image (Lehrbuch der praktischen Pflanzenkunde in Wort und Bild), Published in 1886. Copyright has expired on this artwork. Digitally restored

© Craig McCausland

Campanula or Bellflower Plant, Victorian Botanical Illustration

Very Rare, Beautifully Illustrated Antique Engraved Victorian Botanical Illustration of Campanula or Bellflower Plant: Plate 53, from The Book of Practical Botany in Word and Image (Lehrbuch der praktischen Pflanzenkunde in Wort und Bild), Published in 1886. Copyright has expired on this artwork. Digitally restored

© Craig McCausland