What flowers are these inlays

[Ken G]

Just curious. What flowers are these representative of?  or the meaning for the inlay maybe?  I'm not planning on building any WV rifles but curiosity is getting the better of me.

Thanks in advance

[ed lundquist]

Columbine?, Honeysuckle?

[Tanselman]

Some people think they are bellflowers, which can grow just about anywhere.

Shelby Gallien

[Stoner creek]

Bell Flower! There’s one in relief on RCA #15. I’m fortunate enough to handle this one regularly.
 Good call Shelby!!



anonymous image hosting

[Gary Tucker]

My wife says maybe Corabell or possibly a hollyhock. 

[BOB HILL]

On furniture carving  and gun work usually referred to as bellflowers. Beautiful example, Wayne.
Bob

[Tim Crosby]

  Yes, Bellflowers, also frequently seen on on painted Pennsylvania Dowry/Hope chests.

  https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=9ZLqMV7r&id=159B7D9B5FADE37810F24E15C1B729DDD92B88AC&thid=OIP.9ZLqMV7rXkr5uk9gwsrVGgHaEf&mediaurl=https%3a%2f%2fimage.invaluable.com%2fhousePhotos%2fPookampPookInc%2f98%2f676798%2fH6808-L215834338.jpg&cdnurl=https%3a%2f%2fth.bing.com%2fth%2fid%2fR.f592ea315eeb5e4af9ba4f60c2cad51a%3frik%3drIgr2d0pt8EVTg%26pid%3dImgRaw%26r%3d0&exph=606&expw=1000&q=painted+pennsylvania+dower+chests&simid=608014747776719305&FORM=IRPRST&ck=1CA385B8C753F19BFCAB33CCF6567C40&selectedIndex=6&ajaxhist=0&ajaxserp=0


    Tim C.

[120RIR]

Tulips...just take a look at Pennsylvania German Fraktur and comparable works. They were common period motifs...like hearts.

[Mike Brooks]

I vote two lips

[RAT]

They are tulips. According to the book "The Fraktur-Writings or Illuminated Manuscripts of the Pennsylvania Germans" by Donald A. Shelley...

"The Tulip was the most favored of all flower motifs, whether on pottery, glass, china, pinted tin, butter molds, furniture, or on Fraktur".

They were common on engraved powder horns. Several rifles are pictured in "Rifles of Colonial America" with tulip carving.

It didn't develop in America... it came here from Europe. According to Shelley... "the tulip was first seen at Vienna about 1559".

[Lucky R A]

         The flowers illustrated are indeed Bellflowers.  There are distinct differences between Bellflowers and Tulips.  Bellflowers have a round projection at the terminus of the stem where the bottom of the flower begins.  Tulips usually have three peddles terminating in sharp ends.  While similar in appearance they are two different flowers.  Study the illustrations of Fraktur, and the differences become readily apparent in the small details.
Ron

[Ken G]

Thanks for all the responses.

Ken