Loofah Collection

Loofahs and sponges shaped like baguettes and bread in the Saturday market, Ceret, France, Europe

Butterflies and day flying moths feed from Loofah flower (Luffa cylindrica) and pick up pollen on their legs, underside of thorax and antennae, South Sichuan Bamboo Sea, China

Poster advertising H. L. Ettman & Co. Importers of Sponges and Chamois
NYH188452 Poster advertising H.L. Ettman & Co. Importers of Sponges and Chamois, 1897 (colour litho) by American School, (19th century); Collection of the New-York Historical Society

Loofah, or towel-gourd (litho)
6013553 Loofah, or towel-gourd (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Loofah, or towel-gourd)

Loofah seedling

Illustration of loofah and rope

Luffa cylindrica var. leiocarpa, gourd
Finished watercolour by Sydney Parkinson made during Captain James Cooks first voyage across the Pacific, 1768-1771. Illustration annotated Cucurbita multiflora

Luffa acutangula, sponge gourd
Illustration from the Botany Library Plate Collection held at the Natural History Museum, London. Original text under illustration reads Cucumis acutangula

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Discover the enchanting charm of Ceret's Saturday market in Europe, where loofahs and sponges, shaped like baguettes and bread, await your touch. These natural wonders, also known as towel gourds or luffas, offer a unique textured exfoliation. But their allure goes beyond their shape, as they also provide a vital role in the ecosystem. Butterflies and day flying moths delightfully feed from their fragrant flowers. H.L. Ettman & Co. Importers of Sponges and Chamois have brought these treasures from far-off lands, while lithographs depict the loofah's transformation from seedling to rope-like structure. Luffa cylindrica, or the common loofah, and its var. Leiocarpa, as well as the sponge gourd (Luffa acutangula), are just a few varieties of this versatile plant. Travel back in time with this illustration, as Europeans once used loofahs for bathing, cleaning, and even as musical instruments. Embrace the natural beauty and history of the loofah.