Opium Poppy — Antique Botanical Print
Opium Poppy — Antique Botanical Print
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The Story in the Margin
The opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) traces its origins to the Mediterranean basin, where Neolithic farmers were already cultivating it by the fifth millennium BCE for its oil-rich, nutritious seeds. Sumerian tablets from Mesopotamia record the harvesting of poppy latex as early as 3400 BCE, calling the plant 'hul gil,' the joy plant, and its species name, somniferum, is Latin for 'sleep-bringing,' a nod to the sedative properties the ancient Greeks associated with Hypnos, god of sleep. Beyond its narcotic latex — the source of morphine and codeine — the plant's papery, jewel-toned petals and pepper-pot seed heads made it a favourite of both kitchen gardens and botanical artists. Its ornamental beauty and pharmacological power have made it one of the most consequential plants in human history, and one of the most frequently illustrated in herbal texts.
Materials & origin
- Material: 200 gsm gallery-grade, acid-free fine-art paper (FSC-certified).
- Print: Archival giclée, 12-colour printing, smooth matte finish for glare-free display.
- Artwork: Restored from a public-domain original; colour and detail digitally cleaned for large-format print.
- Origin: Made on demand and shipped from the print hub nearest you, cutting transit and waste.
- Framing: Sold unframed; ships rolled in a protective tube.
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It looked much bigger in the room shots than it does in my hands. My version of Opium Poppy looks like it was scaled up from something small.
I am sorry. There is no good excuse for a delay that long, and we should have kept you updated the whole way. Get in touch and we will refund the shipping and look at the order itself.
It landed on my porch in perfect condition two days early. It has made me appreciate Opium Poppy more than I already did.
The whole experience was fine in a forgettable way. The linework in Opium Poppy is decent without ever being crisp. The driver left it on the porch during a thunderstorm and the seller shrugged it off.
I bought this to fill an awkward corner and it did much more than that. My daughter recognized Opium Poppy from her art class and was thrilled. Perfect from start to finish.
Delivery was quick and the tracking actually updated. The reproduction of Opium Poppy is faithful enough that I would buy another. Our summers are so humid that I was nervous about ordering anything at all, and it has held up perfectly.