Folk Art Fern Picture in Pine Cone Frame

Scottish souvenir ware fern picture in pine cone (seed) frame, under glass.  Signed and dated lower right (obscured by fern pieces):

R G Caddy, 1885?, and on the reverse:

Made in Scotland by R G Caddy.

Late 19th century Scottish folk art. 

Size overall:  11" wide (28cm),  9" high (23cm)

£ 135

Ref 370

Fern Ware - a bit of history

Desire for souvenirs, housewares and furniture decorated with fern motifs grew from a trend in botanical exploration in Britain that became widespread from the 1840's and reached fever pitch by the 1850s. In 1855, Charles Kingsley, author of the book Glaucus, coined the term ‘Pteridomania’ to describe the craze for fern collecting that gripped Victorian society at all levels.

Many popular books on the subject were published for experts and amateur collectors, including books on the ferns of Scotland.

William Carruthers’ and Jeanie Couch Moffat’s "A Collection of Ferns found in the Neighbourhood of Moffat with Popular Descriptions and Locations of all Known Species" (and there's a mouthful) was published in 1863. 

Source:  Wikipedia