7 Favorites Featuring Cattleya, a Most Unusual Color

Jay Johnson Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 9:00AM

 

There are some very unusual color names, but perhaps none as esoteric as cattleya (pronounced cat-lee-yuh). The name comes from William Cattley, the botany patron and orchid lover who sparked a major collecting and gardening trend for orchids in England in the 1700s. One of his original orchids, cattleya labiata, is of the color now known at cattleya (see photo at right).
Merriam-Webster defines cattleya as being

A moderate purple that is redder and paler than heliotrope, bluer and paler than average amethyst, and paler and slightly bluer than manganese violet.

This color is difficult to find in decorative objects, but we kept our eyes open and came up with seven favorites that incorporate this rich, beautiful purple hue. Click on each photograph for more information about each piece......more