The Public Paperfolding History Project

Main Index Page

x

Plants, Flowers and Seeds etc
 
This page attempts to record what is known about the origin and history of folded paper plants, flowers and seeds. Please contact me if you know any of this information is incorrect or if you have any other information that should be added. Thank you.

There is a separate page about designs for Leaves.

**********

The Iris / Lily - 1845 onwards

**********

1845

Designs for Persimmon and Eggplant, both made from the first slit square base, appear in the Kan No Mado, which is usually dated to 1845.

**********

1885

A design for a lily appeared in 'Kindergarten Shoho' (Preliminary Kindergarten) by Iijima Hanjuro, which was copyrighted on October 4th Meiji 17 (1884) and published by Fukuda Senzo in August of Meiji 18 (1885)

**********

1914

A design for a 'Dendrobium', a type of orchid, appears in 'Zhe zhi tu shuo' (Illustrated Paperfolding), compiled by Gui Shaolie, which was published by the Commercial Press in Shanghai in Ming guo 3 (1914).

**********

1917

Another design for a 'Dendrobium', developed from the Star-shaped Box, appears in 'Xu Zhe zhi tu shuo' (More Illustrated Paperfolding) by Yongxiang Shi, which was published by the Commercial Press in Shanghai in 1917. The instructions say to fold the flaps inside and glue them with paste.

**********

The same book contains a desgn for a 'Chrysanthemum' made from several pieces of paper.

**********

1923

A design for a Pine Cone (used to play a table game) appears in 'More Paper Magic' by Will Blyth, which was published by C Arthur Pearson in London in 1923.

**********

The Morning Glory - 1931 onwards

**********

1935

'Origami Moyo, Book One', by Kawarazaki Kodo, which was published by Unsodo in Japan in 1935, contained several prints showing origami versions of plants and flowers.

Orchid

***

Bamboo

***

Tulips

**********

'Origami Moyo, Book Two' by Kawarazaki Kodo, which was published in Japan in 1935, also contains several prints showing origami versons of various plants and flowers.

Ivy

***

Wisteria

***

Pawlonia

***

Omodaka

***

Hozuki

***

Chrysanthemum

***

Waterlilies

**********

1958

A flower cut from a Froebelian type Windmill Base pattern appears in 'Origami: Book Two' by Florence Sakade, which was published by the Charles E Tuttle Company in Rutland, Vermont and Tokyo in 1958

**********

Persimmon - 1961 onwards

**********