(nee Chamberlayne, British, 1787-1832)

Myristica moschata (Nutmeg tree), 1830, inscribed to the artist's mother, and dated verso "The nutmeg I have grown at Mauritius...June 30/1830/For Mrs.[?] Chamberlayne", watercolor on "Turnbulls/Sure Fine/London Board with embossed stamp, 10-7/8 x 17-3/8 in.; unframed

Provenance: Tillinghast Estate, Brevard, North Carolina/Providence, Rhode Island; Private Collection

Note: Annabella Telfair, or Mrs. Charles Telfair as she liked to sign her work, was a pioneer of her time as an illustrator and collector of plant specimens. Her known works are native to Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa, where she resided with her husband, the prominent Irish naturalist Charles Telfair. Most of her illustrations feature plants her husband discovered or plants she observed in the surrounding area. The plant, Myristica moschata, depicted is native to the island. While Annabella Telfair illustrated a variety of plants, she was also interested in marine life and frequently sent algae and seaweed specimens to the important botanist William Jackson (W.J.) Hooker. Due to her contributions, an algae was named in her honor. Along with being a well-known botanist, W.J. Hooker directed the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, which remains a successful institution today. W.J. Hooker created an expansive personal collection from his own discoveries and other samples individuals, like Annabella Telfair, sent to him. This collection and the botanical illustrations and samples are held at the Kew Gardens. Her works are also held in various private collections and institutions like The Natural History Museum in London, England and The Chateau Telfair in Pamplemousses, Mauritius. She also contributed botanical illustrations for publication in Curtis's Botanical Magazine founded in London in 1787 by the English botanist William Curtis. This is the first collection of original Annabella Telfair watercolors to be available to the public at auction and present a rare opportunity to have illustrations by a noted female naturalist from the 19th century.