Topiary from back when anyone with enough shrubbery for a duck pruned up in yew had six gardeners to go with it. Illustrations from “The Book of Topiary.” Published in 1904, it was edited by Charles Henry Curtis, editor of the “Gardeners Magazine” and the more interesting W. Gibson who was the Head Gardener at Levens Hall in Westmoreland.

View in Levens Gardens, Showing Gardener’s House. Page 12 of Charles Henry Curtis and W. Gibson’s 1904 book The Book of Topiary. Printed in Edinburgh, Scotland by Turnbull and Spears and published by J. Lane of London and New York. Collections of the Smithsonian Institution. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/bookoftopiary00curt/page/n11/mode/1up

A Farm Fresh Fowl at Compton Wynyates – A ‘Leathern Bottel’ Cut in Box at Compton Wynyates. Page 25 of Charles Henry Curtis and W. Gibson’s 1904 book The Book of Topiary. Printed in Edinburgh, Scotland by Turnbull and Spears and published by J. Lane of London and New York. Collections of the Smithsonian Institution. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/bookoftopiary00curt/page/n24/mode/1up

Boats, Pyramids, and Peacock. Page 33 of Charles Henry Curtis and W. Gibson’s 1904 book The Book of Topiary. Printed in Edinburgh, Scotland by Turnbull and Spears and published by J. Lane of London and New York. Collections of the Smithsonian Institution. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/bookoftopiary00curt/page/n32/mode/1up

Muntham Court, Sussex. Page 55 of Charles Henry Curtis and W. Gibson’s 1904 book The Book of Topiary. Printed in Edinburgh, Scotland by Turnbull and Spears and published by J. Lane of London and New York. Collections of the Smithsonian Institution. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/bookoftopiary00curt/page/n54/mode/1up

Yew Tree with Bird. Page 59 of Charles Henry Curtis and W. Gibson’s 1904 book The Book of Topiary. Printed in Edinburgh, Scotland by Turnbull and Spears and published by J. Lane of London and New York. Collections of the Smithsonian Institution. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/bookoftopiary00curt/page/n59/mode/1up

Queen Elizabeth’s Crown and Jug, Elvaston Castle. Page 69 of Charles Henry Curtis and W. Gibson’s 1904 book The Book of Topiary. Printed in Edinburgh, Scotland by Turnbull and Spears and published by J. Lane of London and New York. Collections of the Smithsonian Institution. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/bookoftopiary00curt/page/n68/mode/1up

Crosses and Jugs in Yew. Page 38 of Charles Henry Curtis and W. Gibson’s 1904 book The Book of Topiary. Printed in Edinburgh, Scotland by Turnbull and Spears and published by J. Lane of London and New York. Collections of the Smithsonian Institution. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/bookoftopiary00curt/page/38/mode/1up

Cross in Yew over the Grave of Lieutenant-General Arbuthnot, K.C.B, K.T.S, in Saint Boniface Churchyard, Bonchurch, Isle of Wight. Page 104 of Charles Henry Curtis and W. Gibson’s 1904 book The Book of Topiary. Printed in Edinburgh, Scotland by Turnbull and Spears and published by J. Lane of London and New York. Collections of the Smithsonian Institution. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/bookoftopiary00curt/page/n104/mode/1up

Yews at Montacute, Somerset. Page 109 of Charles Henry Curtis and W. Gibson’s 1904 book The Book of Topiary. Printed in Edinburgh, Scotland by Turnbull and Spears and published by J. Lane of London and New York. Collections of the Smithsonian Institution. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/bookoftopiary00curt/page/n104/mode/1up

Seat at The Priory, Glastonbury. Page 130 of Charles Henry Curtis and W. Gibson’s 1904 book The Book of Topiary. Printed in Edinburgh, Scotland by Turnbull and Spears and published by J. Lane of London and New York. Collections of the Smithsonian Institution. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/bookoftopiary00curt/page/n130/mode/1up

A Swan Cut in Box at Compton Wynyates (upper image) and Cottage Topiary at North Weald, Essex. Page 148 of Charles Henry Curtis and W. Gibson’s 1904 book The Book of Topiary. Printed in Edinburgh, Scotland by Turnbull and Spears and published by J. Lane of London and New York. Collections of the Smithsonian Institution. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/bookoftopiary00curt/page/n148/mode/1up

Levens Gardens, Showing B and Lion. Page 154 of Charles Henry Curtis and W. Gibson’s 1904 book The Book of Topiary. Printed in Edinburgh, Scotland by Turnbull and Spears and published by J. Lane of London and New York. Collections of the Smithsonian Institution. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/bookoftopiary00curt/page/n154/mode/1up

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