This is a mad crazy set of botanical plates and are sure to amuse. They actually originate in Victorian England when Edward Lear came up with them as part of his Nonsense Botany series. They were so successful that he published 3 different books: "Nonsense Songs and Stories" (1871), "More Nonsense Songs, Pictures, etc." (1872), and "Laughable Lyrics" (1877). After his death in 1888, all of these botanical drawings were published in a collection of their own, Nonsense Botany (1888). Of course Edward Lear is better remembered for his poem, The Owl and the Pussycat. 

The plants chosen for these plates are Phattfacia Stupenda, Tigerlillia Terribilis, Manypeeplia Upsidownia, Shoebootia Utilis, Piggiwiggia Pyramidalis, and EnKoopia ChicKabiddia. Which one of these quirky guys is your favorite? These plates are just begging to be displayed!

The plates measure 7 ½” diameter and have no chips, cracks or utensil wear. They don’t look used. They are porcelain,  made in Japan  as part of Sigma’s Taste Setter series. 

and just as a reminder, here is the first verse of The Owl and The Pussycat !!