Violette Collection

The Selfridge family at Highcliffe Castle, 1921. From left to right: Gordon Selfridge Junior, Isadora Duncan, Vicomte de Sibour (sitting)

Gateau Violette

Composition with campanule, mountain violet and lilium, with butterfly - Lithography attributed to Paul Theodor van
FLO4682436 Composition with campanule, mountain violet and lilium, with butterfly - Lithography attributed to Paul Theodor van Brussel (1754-1795), author of the cover bouquet, or A.Bres

Violet of dogs. Coloured copper engraving from a drawing by Isaac Russell from William Baxter's book "English
FLO4567569 Violet of dogs. Coloured copper engraving from a drawing by Isaac Russell from William Baxter's book "English Botanical Phenomenes", 1834

Fancy dress costume for a violet flower seller, with flower hat, bodice and skirt decorated with violet flowers
FLO4565053 Fancy dress costume for a violet flower seller, with flower hat, bodice and skirt decorated with violet flowers and leaves

La fee violet kneels under the leaves squeezing gold dishes - Eau forte by Charles Geoffroy (1819-1882)
FLO4637811 La fee violet kneels under the leaves squeezing gold dishes - Eau forte by Charles Geoffroy (1819-1882), based on an illustration by Jean Ignace Isidore Gerard dit J.J.J.Granville

Scent violet. Hand-coloured engraving in "Bouquet de souvenirs", 1840, by John Stevens Henslow (1796-1861)
FLO4644471 Scent violet. Hand-coloured engraving in "Bouquet de souvenirs", 1840, by John Stevens Henslow (1796-1861), British botanist and geologist. Violet, Viola odorata

Heath dog violet, Viola canina. Handcoloured copperplate engraving after a drawing by James Sowerby for James
FLO4700643 Heath dog violet, Viola canina. Handcoloured copperplate engraving after a drawing by James Sowerby for James Smith's English Botany, 1799.; (add.info.: Heath dog violet, Viola canina)

Fragrant violet. Hand-coloured copper engraving from a drawing by James Sowerby (1757-1822), in English Botanique
FLO4700621 Fragrant violet. Hand-coloured copper engraving from a drawing by James Sowerby (1757-1822), in English Botanique, 1799 by Smith. Sweet purple, Viola odorata

Fragrant violet - two young girls drenned with flowers - Lithography by Louis Lassalle
FLO4625494 Fragrant violet - two young girls drenned with flowers - Lithography by Louis Lassalle, extracted from Les fleurs parlantes by Louise Leneveux (1800-18)

Letters V and W: V and W of the 15th century (North), Venitienne, Vichy (Casino), Violette, Wisterie
DUV4198290 Letters V and W: V and W of the 15th century (North), Venitienne, Vichy (Casino), Violette, Wisterie. Alphabet (abecedary) illustrates a character in traditional costume

Eizan sumire gold eizan violet, Viola eizanensis. Handcoloured woodblock print by Kono Bairei from Senshu no Hana
FLO4653113 Eizan sumire gold eizan violet, Viola eizanensis. Handcoloured woodblock print by Kono Bairei from Senshu no Hana (One Thousand Varieties of Flowers), Bunkyudo, Kyoto

Hairy violet, Viola hirta (Violette herissee) Handcoloured copperplate engraving after a drawing by James Sowerby for
FLO4700129 Hairy violet, Viola hirta (Violette herissee) Handcoloured copperplate engraving after a drawing by James Sowerby for James Smith's English Botany, 1801.; (add.info.: Hairy violet)

Yellow daffodil, white poet narcissus, purple crocus, violet flower, yellow primevere, yellow primerose
FLO4721142 Yellow daffodil, white poet narcissus, purple crocus, violet flower, yellow primevere, yellow primerose, white wood anemone and white snow pierce

Blue and white violets. Lithograph by Louisa Anne Twamley (1812-1895) in Our Wild Flower, Charles Tilt, London
FLO4720658 Blue and white violets. Lithograph by Louisa Anne Twamley (1812-1895) in Our Wild Flower, Charles Tilt, London, England, 1839.; (add.info.: Blue and white violets)

Purple marsh, Viola palustris. Handcoloured copperplate engraving after a drawing by James Sowerby for James
FLO4700569 Purple marsh, Viola palustris. Handcoloured copperplate engraving after a drawing by James Sowerby for James Smith's English Botany, 1798.; (add.info.: Purple marsh, Viola palustris)

Sweet violet, Viola odorata (violet) Handcoloured copperplate engraving after a drawing by James Sowerby for
FLO4697944 Sweet violet, Viola odorata (violet) Handcoloured copperplate engraving after a drawing by James Sowerby for Smith's English Botany, 1799.; (add.info.: Sweet violet)

Wild Violet, Viola cucullata. Illustration by Clarissa Badger (nee Munger, 1806-1889)
FLO4565665 Wild Violet, Viola cucullata. Illustration by Clarissa Badger (nee Munger, 1806-1889), lithography published in "Wildflowers, dessinees et mises en couleur par la nature"

Gerbera or daisy of Transvaal and Saintpaulia common or African violet. African daisy, Gerbera jamesonii
FLO4715274 Gerbera or daisy of Transvaal and Saintpaulia common or African violet. African daisy, Gerbera jamesonii, and African violet, Saintpaulia ionantha

Seals, white and fragrant purple. Squill, Scilla species, and violet, Viola odorata
FLO4715632 Seals, white and fragrant purple. Squill, Scilla species, and violet, Viola odorata. Handcoloured woodblock print from Konan Tanigami's " Seiyou Sokazufu"

European flowers used in perfumery: tuber, jasmine, narcissus, Parma violet, daffodil, rose, orange blossom
FLO4689606 European flowers used in perfumery: tuber, jasmine, narcissus, Parma violet, daffodil, rose, orange blossom, cassie

Miss Violet Selfridge & Vicomte Jacques de Sibour
Miss Violet (Violette) Selfridge, daughter of retail magnate Harry Gordon Selfridge, pictured at the time of her engagement to Vicomte Jacques de Sibour of whom there is an inset photograph

Snowdrops & violets
CW9828 Snowdrops & violets by Morgan, M.V. (fl.1880-1930); Private Collection; (add.info.: by M.V. Morgan); © Christopher Wood Gallery, London, UK

Sweet violet, Violette, Viola odorata
6336992 Sweet violet, Violette, Viola odorata by Bessa, Pancrace (1772-1846) (after); (add.info.: Sweet violet, Violette, Viola odorata)

Sweet violet, Violette, Viola odorata. Handcoloured copperplate engraving after an illustration by Pancrace Bessa from Charles Malos Guirlande de Flore, Garland of Flowers, Chez Janet, Paris, 1816

Hyacinth, jacinthe, Hyacinthus orientalis. Handcoloured copperplate engraving after an illustration by Pancrace Bessa from Charles Malos Guirlande de Flore, Garland of Flowers, Chez Janet, Paris

PD. 2-1979 Dancers in violet dresses, arms raised, c. 1900 (pastel and black chalk on paper)
FIT77516 PD.2-1979 Dancers in violet dresses, arms raised, c.1900 (pastel and black chalk on paper) by Degas, Edgar (1834-1917); 90.9x52.1 cm; Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge

Violet-crowned hummingbird, Amazilia violiceps, female. (Oiseau-mouche a couronne violette, Ornismya sephanioides). Handcolored steel engraving by Coutant after an illustration by Jean-Gabriel Pretre

The beauty Euriant, mistress of the Count of Nevers
Euriant of Savoy, mistress of the Count of Nevers. The story of the beauty Euriant and Gerard de Nevers was related in La Roman de la violette by the poet Gerbert de Montreuil

Sweet violet or garden violet, Viola odorata, Violette odorante. Handcoloured steel engraving by Lebrun after a botanical illustration by Edouard Maubert from Pierre Oscar Reveil, A. Dupuis, Fr

Gloxinia variety, violette neigeuse, Sinningia speciosa. Handcoloured lithograph from Louis van Houtte and Charles Lemaires Flowers of the Gardens and Hothouses of Europe

Rodolphe Declares His Love for Violetta (chromolitho)
735648 Rodolphe Declares His Love for Violetta (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Rodolphe Declares His Love for Violetta)

Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa, with sphinx moth
L Epine violette. Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa, with sphinx moth. Handcoloured etching from Pierre Joseph Buchoz Collection precieuse et enluminee des fleurs les plus belles et les plus curieuses

China star, Callistephus chinensis
La Reine marguerite violette et rouge. China star, Callistephus chinensis. Handcoloured etching from Pierre Joseph Buchoz Collection precieuse et enluminee des fleurs les plus belles et les plus

Violette Cordery, 1926
British racing driver and long distance record breaker Violette Cordery (1900-1983), whose successful driving earned her the title of Queen of Motorists, pictured behind the wheel in 1926. 1926

Violet Cordery, Queen of Motorists
Violet Cordery, whose successful driving earned her the title of Queen of Motorists, showing her sister Evelyn how to tune up a car

Crwth or Violette (litho)
1056451 Crwth or Violette (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Crwth or Violette. Illustration for The Graphic)

Invicta 4-seater high-chassis tourer of Violette Corderey, Boulogne Motor Week, France, 1928
Invicta 4-seat high-chassis tourer 1928 4467 cc. Vehicle Reg. No. PK2552. Event Entry No: 14. Driver: Corderey, Miss. V. Place: Boulogne Motor Week. Date: 3-9.9.28

Berthe Morisot with a Bouquet of Violets, 1872 (oil on canvas)
XIR36825 Berthe Morisot with a Bouquet of Violets, 1872 (oil on canvas) by Manet, Edouard (1832-83); 55x39 cm; Musee d Orsay, Paris

Standing Tazza; Unknown; Paris, France, Europe; about 1785; Jaune fonce marble and breche violette (?); gilt bronze mounts; Object: H: 37.8 x W: 24.4 x D: 25.2 cm (H: 1 ft. 2 7/8 in. x W: 9 5/8 in)

Pair of Vases (jardinieres); Unknown; Paris, France, Europe; about 1785; Breche violette with gilt bronze mounts and brass liners; Various, see extensions

Grandville Violet 1847
VIOLETTE (erythronium) Date: 1847

The Paris fashions for April, 1860
A sketch from the monthly ladies fashion pages. The evening dress (back) is made of silk, the colour of violette de Parme, trimmed with fluted silk plaiting of a slightly darker tone

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"Violette: A Timeless Elegance and Delicate Beauty" Step into the enchanting world of Violette, where history and nature intertwine to create a captivating tale. In 1921, the Selfridge family found solace in the grandeur of Highcliffe Castle, surrounded by its majestic architecture and breathtaking landscapes. Amidst this picturesque setting, Figue violette or Ficus violacea flourished, adding a touch of vibrant purple to the already mesmerizing scenery. The Gateau Violette became a delectable treat that delighted taste buds with its delicate flavors. But it wasn't just about aesthetics; love blossomed between Miss Violet Selfridge and Vicomte Jacques de Sibour. Their romance mirrored the beauty of snowdrops and violets - pure, tender, and fragrant. The Sweet violet or Viola odorata held an irresistible charm throughout history. Its alluring scent filled gardens with nostalgia while inspiring poets and artists alike. Hyacinths also joined this symphony of colors as they bloomed alongside their violet companions. Intriguingly captured on paper in pastel hues were dancers adorned in violet dresses from another era - c. 1900 - showcasing gracefulness through their raised arms. Meanwhile, the Violet-crowned hummingbird displayed its own natural elegance as it fluttered amidst tropical flora. Legend tells us about Euriant's ethereal beauty as she captivated hearts as mistress to Count Nevers – her allure reminiscent of these delicate flowers' timeless appeal. Whether it be the Snowdrop's purity or Garden Violet's sweet fragrance (Viola odorata), Violette remains an emblematic symbol of elegance throughout time – forever enchanting those who encounter its delicate petals.