The tulip “Saeije Bloem” bears a name that in contemporary Dutch could lead to misinterpretations.
The word ‘Saeije’ seems similar to ‘saai,’ which would translate to ‘boring flower’. However, ‘Saeije’ is a term from Old Dutch, meaning ‘silk’. Therefore, the correct translation is ‘Silken Flower’.
This aligns with the visual characteristics of the tulip; the delicate purple stripes on the petals evoke the luxurious texture of silk. Naming tulips after such luxurious objects or materials was a common practice, which explains the choice of ‘silk’ in the name of this tulip.
The “Saeije Bloem” is a tulip that reflects historical linguistic nuances and the appreciation for luxurious objects in tulip cultivation.
The 99 “Saeije Bloem” NFT tulips, in various art styles, have the theme ‘Silk’. The portrait of the “Saeije Bloem”, from the ‘Ninetynine Tulips’ collection, serves as inspiration for the NFT tulips.
Ninetynine Tulips 