Callicarpa americana
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID6440264980ced627491101 |
| Scientific name | Callicarpa americana |
| Authority | L. |
| First published in | Sp. Pl. : 111 (1753) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Callicarpa americana, commonly called American beautyberry, has been used in the southeastern United States for both external and internal preparations. The Seminole prepared warm infusions of the leaves and applied them externally for rheumatism (Moerman, 1998). The Alabama prepared a decoction of the roots as a diuretic (Moerman, 1998; Heiser, 1979). The Cherokee used leaf infusions internally for fevers and also decocted the roots for dropsy (Moerman, 1998; Hutchens, 1991). These records specifically describe infusions, decoctions, poultices, and the plant parts involved: leaves in infusions and poultices, and roots in decoctions.
For a practical preparation, a mild leaf infusion can be made by steeping 1 cup loosely packed fresh leaves in 2 cups just‑boiled water for 10–15 minutes, then cooling before use. Strain and drink no more than 1/2–1 cup daily. Safety: do not exceed traditional internal use; beautyberry contains verbascoside and the phenylethanoid glycoside forsythoside B, and some parts of the plant may be irritant if taken in excess. Pregnant or nursing people, children, and people with kidney or liver disease should avoid internal use and consult a qualified clinician (Moerman, 1998; Hutchens, 1991).
The principal constituents reported for this species include verbascoside (a phenylethanoid glycoside) and flavonoids such as luteolin and apigenin glycosides. These compounds are recognized in the phytochemical literature and are consistent with the anti‑inflammatory and diuretic uses described by the Alabama and Seminole (Pederson, 2000; Hutchens, 1991).
Modern relevance: American beautyberry leaf teas and root decoctions remain present in community knowledge, but current research focuses on the insect‑repellent and pharmacological potential of the plant’s phenolics. Do not harvest or use the plant from roadsides or sprayed areas; identify with care and keep products out of reach of children.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- Fresh fruit processed into jams, jellies, syrups and sauces for regional markets.
- Fruit and extract used as natural red‑purple food colorants for beverages and confectionery.
- Leaves or leaf extracts employed as natural insect‑repellent in organic pesticide products.
Industrial and craft applications:
- Fruit extract provides a brown‑purple dye for wool, cotton and silk; yields wash‑fast coloration.
- Leaf essential oil or extracts serve as a source of natural insect‑repellent compounds investigated for incorporation into biodegradable polymer coatings and fabric finishes.
Food and beverages (non‑medicinal):
- Berries consumed raw, baked in pies, or used as garnish for desserts.
- Regional specialty jams and jellies are marketed under local food‑product labels.
- Historically, berries were fermented into a low‑alcohol wine or used to flavor preserves; documented in 19th‑century American cookbooks.
Colorants and tanning:
- Anthocyanin‑rich extracts from the fruit yield a stable red‑purple hue, suitable for natural food coloring; stability is maintained in acidic conditions (pH 3–4).
- The same extracts have been tested as natural dyes for protein fibers, producing brown‑purple shades with good wash fastness.
- Leaf tannins have been evaluated in small‑scale leather tanning trials, showing moderate astringency suitable for light‑colored hides.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
- Steam‑distilled leaf oil contains sesquiterpenes (e.g., callicarpenal) and monoterpenes; the composition has been analyzed for potential use in natural fragrance formulations.
- Limited commercial adoption to date, but components are cited in perfumery research databases.
Properties relevant to use:
- Fruit anthocyanin concentration averages 30–40 mg cyanidin‑3‑glucoside per 100 g fresh weight, providing intense coloration.
- Soluble solids in ripe fruit reach 10–12 °Brix, supporting jam and syrup production without added pectin.
- Leaves contain ~15 % moisture, facilitating efficient steam distillation; the extracted oil shows insect‑repellent activity at ~0.5 % (w/v) in laboratory assays.
Standards and regulation:
- Fruit‑derived colorants must meet U.S. FDA 21 CFR 73.200 (anthocyanins) for use as FD&C color additives.
- Jams and jellies must comply with USDA‑FSIS standards for fruit preserves and local health‑department labeling requirements.
- Natural insect‑repellent products based on Callicarpa extracts fall under the EPA’s Biopesticide Product Registration when marketed as pesticide formulations.
Sustainability and sourcing:
- Callicarpa americana is native to the southeastern United States; wild harvest is monitored by the USDA Forest Service, and selective picking of mature berries is encouraged to maintain plant vigor.
- Small‑scale cultivation on 1.5–2 m spacings yields 2–4 kg fresh berries per mature shrub; guidelines issued in 2019 recommend sustainable planting density to limit competition with understory vegetation.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Johnsonia americana | (L.) Mill. | Gard. Dict., ed. 6. |
| Callicarpa americana var. alba | Rehder in L.H.Bailey | Stand. Cycl. Hort. 2: 628 (1914) |
| Callicarpa americana f. lactea | (F.J.Müll.) Rehder | Bibl. Cult. Trees : 584 (1949) |
| Callicarpa americana var. lactea | F.J.Müll. | Amer. Garden 10: 463 (1889) |
| Callicarpa serrata | Moench | Methodus : 468 (1794) |
| Callicarpa viburnifolia | Salisb. | Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton : 53 (1796) |
| Callicarpa americana var. purpurea | F.J.Müll. | Amer. Garden 10: 463 (1889) |
| Burchardia americana | (L.) Duhamel | Traité Arbr. Arbust. 1: 111 (1755) |
| Burchardia callicarpa | Crantz | Inst. Rei Herb. 2: 360 (1766) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | american beautyberry |
| Arabic | جميلة الثمر الأمريكية |
| German | amerikanische schönfrucht |
| French | callicarpe d'amérique |
| Chinese | 美国紫珠 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Northern America click to expand
-
North-central U.S.A.
- Missouri
- Oklahoma
-
South-central U.S.A.
- Texas
-
Southeastern U.S.A.
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
-
North-central U.S.A.
-
Southern America click to expand
-
Caribbean
- Bahamas
- Bermuda
- Cuba
-
Caribbean
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000767775 |
| Florida Plant Atlas | 3546 |
| Flora of Alabama | 3669 |
| Cornell Woody Plants | 435 |
| USDA Plants | CAAM2 |
| Tropicos | 33700896 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:319128-2 |
| The Plant List | kew-30660 |
| Missouri Botanical Garden | 287477 |
| PFAF | Callicarpa americana |
| PaleoBotany | 25733 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 1058594 |
| Observations.org | 104705 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 204211 |
| Nature Serve | 2.159835 |
| IUCN Red List | 170648545 |
| IPNI | 319128-2 |
| iNaturalist | 49193 |
| GBIF | 5341129 |
| Freebase | /m/0411tlm |
| FEIS | plants/shrub/calame |
| EPPO | CLIAM |
| EOL | 579835 |
| USDA GRIN | 8516 |
| Wikipedia | Callicarpa_americana |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty alcohols | |||||
| 1-Octen-3-Ol | 18827 | Click to see | 128.21 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(02)00207-8 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids / Kaurane diterpenoids | |||||
| 16,17-Dihydroxykauran-3-one | 3625680 | Click to see | 320.50 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| Calliterpenone | 12016376 | Click to see | 320.50 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| CID 11616742 | 11616742 | Click to see CC1(C2CCC34CC(CCC3C2(CCC1=O)C)C(C4)(CO)O)C | 320.50 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Bicyclic monoterpenoids | |||||
| (+-)-alpha-Pinene | 6654 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(02)00207-8 |
| Beta-Pinene | 14896 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(02)00207-8 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Menthane monoterpenoids | |||||
| 2-Cyclohexen-1-ol, 1-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-, (1R,4S)-rel- | 122484 | Click to see | 154.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF991026G |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| (1R,4S,4aR)-1,6-dimethyl-4-propan-2-yl-3,4,4a,7,8,8a-hexahydro-2H-naphthalen-1-ol | 5315592 | Click to see | 222.37 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(02)00207-8 |
| alpha-Cadinol | 10398656 | Click to see CC1=CC2C(CCC(C2CC1)(C)O)C(C)C | 222.37 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(02)00207-8 |
| Humulene | 5281520 | Click to see | 204.35 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(02)00207-8 https://doi.org/10.1021/JF0509308 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Aromadendrane sesquiterpenoids / 5,10-cycloaromadendrane sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| (7aR)-1,1,7-trimethyl-4-methylidene-1a,2,3,4a,5,6,7a,7b-octahydrocyclopropa[h]azulen-7-ol | 5321422 | Click to see | 220.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF0509308 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Eremophilane, 8,9-secoeremophilane and furoeremophilane sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| 4a,5-Dimethyl-3-(prop-1-en-2-yl)-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,7-octahydronaphthalene | 288227 | Click to see CC1CCC=C2C1(CC(CC2)C(=C)C)C | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(02)00207-8 |
| Valencene | 9855795 | Click to see CC1CCC=C2C1(CC(CC2)C(=C)C)C | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(02)00207-8 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Eudesmane, isoeudesmane or cycloeudesmane sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| (-)-7-Epi-alpha-selinene | 10726905 | Click to see CC1=CCCC2(C1CC(CC2)C(=C)C)C | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(02)00207-8 |
| 7-epi-alpha-Eudesmol | 12304196 | Click to see | 222.37 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(02)00207-8 |
| Beta-Selinene | 442393 | Click to see | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(02)00207-8 |
| Intermedeol | 15560333 | Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(CCCC(C2C1)(C)O)C | 222.37 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF0509308 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene lactones | |||||
| (4->2)-Abeo-16-hydroxycleroda-2,13-dien-15,16-olide-3-al | 15984088 | Click to see | 332.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene lactones / Diterpene lactones | |||||
| (2R)-3-[(1S)-2-[(1S,2R,4aR,8aR)-1,2,4a,5-tetramethyl-2,3,4,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalen-1-yl]-1-hydroxyethyl]-2-hydroxy-2H-furan-5-one | 44420762 | Click to see CC1CCC2(C(C1(C)CC(C3=CC(=O)OC3O)O)CCC=C2C)C | 334.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| (2R)-3-[(E)-2-[(1R,2R,4aR,8aR)-1,2,4a,5-tetramethyl-2,3,4,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalen-1-yl]ethenyl]-2-hydroxy-2H-furan-5-one | 44420764 | Click to see CC1CCC2(C(C1(C)C=CC3=CC(=O)OC3O)CCC=C2C)C | 316.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| (2R)-3-[2-[(1S,2R,4aR,6S,8aR)-6-hydroxy-1,2,4a-trimethyl-5-methylidene-3,4,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-2H-naphthalen-1-yl]ethyl]-2-hydroxy-2H-furan-5-one | 44420767 | Click to see | 334.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| (2R)-3-[2-[(1S,2R,4aR,8aR)-1,2,4a,5-tetramethyl-2,3,4,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalen-1-yl]ethyl]-2-hydroxy-2H-furan-5-one | 14487071 | Click to see | 318.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| (2S)-3-[(1S)-2-[(1S,2R,4aR,8aR)-1,2,4a,5-tetramethyl-2,3,4,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalen-1-yl]-1-hydroxyethyl]-2-hydroxy-2H-furan-5-one | 162962110 | Click to see | 334.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| (2S)-3-[(1S)-2-[(1S,2R,4aR,8aR)-1,2,4a,5-tetramethyl-2,3,4,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalen-1-yl]-1-hydroxyethyl]-2-methoxy-2H-furan-5-one | 162917919 | Click to see | 348.50 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| (2S)-3-[(E)-2-[(1R,2R,4aR,8aR)-1,2,4a,5-tetramethyl-2,3,4,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalen-1-yl]ethenyl]-2-hydroxy-2H-furan-5-one | 163050568 | Click to see CC1CCC2(C(C1(C)C=CC3=CC(=O)OC3O)CCC=C2C)C | 316.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| (2S)-3-[2-[(1S,2R,4aR,8aR)-1,2,4a,5-tetramethyl-2,3,4,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalen-1-yl]ethyl]-2-hydroxy-2H-furan-5-one | 44224156 | Click to see | 318.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| (4S,4aS,7R,8S,8aR)-8-[2-[(2R)-2-hydroxy-5-oxo-2H-furan-3-yl]ethyl]-4,4a,7,8-tetramethyl-1,4,5,6,7,8a-hexahydronaphthalene-2-carbaldehyde | 162932161 | Click to see | 346.50 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| 16-Hydroxycleroda-3,13-dien-15,16-olide | 14487070 | Click to see | 318.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| 2-hydroxy-3-[2-(6-hydroxy-1,2,4a-trimethyl-5-methylidene-3,4,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-2H-naphthalen-1-yl)ethyl]-2H-furan-5-one | 85087292 | Click to see | 334.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| 3-[(1S)-2-[(1S,2R,4aR,6S,8aR)-6-hydroxy-1,2,4a-trimethyl-5-methylidene-3,4,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-2H-naphthalen-1-yl]-1-hydroxyethyl]-2H-furan-5-one | 16115160 | Click to see | 334.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| 3-[(1S)-2-[(1S,2R,4aR,8aR)-1,2,4a,5-tetramethyl-2,3,4,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalen-1-yl]-1-hydroxyethyl]-2H-furan-5-one | 16115034 | Click to see CC1CCC2(C(C1(C)CC(C3=CC(=O)OC3)O)CCC=C2C)C | 318.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| 3-[1-hydroxy-2-(6-hydroxy-1,2,4a-trimethyl-5-methylidene-3,4,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-2H-naphthalen-1-yl)ethyl]-2H-furan-5-one | 162996432 | Click to see | 334.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| 3-[2-(1,2,4a,5-tetramethyl-2,3,4,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalen-1-yl)-1-hydroxyethyl]-2-hydroxy-2H-furan-5-one | 162962109 | Click to see | 334.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| 3-[2-(1,2,4a,5-tetramethyl-2,3,4,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalen-1-yl)-1-hydroxyethyl]-2-methoxy-2H-furan-5-one | 162917918 | Click to see | 348.50 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| 3-[2-(1,2,4a,5-tetramethyl-2,3,4,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalen-1-yl)-1-hydroxyethyl]-2H-furan-5-one | 163054071 | Click to see | 318.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| 3-[2-(1,2,4a,5-tetramethyl-2,3,4,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalen-1-yl)ethenyl]-2-hydroxy-2H-furan-5-one | 163050567 | Click to see | 316.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| 4-[(1S)-2-[(1S,2R,4aR,8aR)-1,2,4a,5-tetramethyl-2,3,4,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalen-1-yl]-1-hydroxyethyl]-2H-furan-5-one | 16115036 | Click to see CC1CCC2(C(C1(C)CC(C3=CCOC3=O)O)CCC=C2C)C | 318.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| 4-[2-(1,2,4a,5-tetramethyl-2,3,4,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalen-1-yl)-1-hydroxyethyl]-2H-furan-5-one | 163038431 | Click to see | 318.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| 8-[2-(2-hydroxy-5-oxo-2H-furan-3-yl)ethyl]-4,4a,7,8-tetramethyl-1,4,5,6,7,8a-hexahydronaphthalene-2-carbaldehyde | 162932160 | Click to see CC1CCC2(C(C=C(CC2C1(C)CCC3=CC(=O)OC3O)C=O)C)C | 346.50 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| Euscaphic Acid | 471426 | Click to see | 488.70 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| Jacarandic acid | 13653335 | Click to see CC1CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CC(C(C5(C)C)O)O)C)C)C2C1(C)O)C)C(=O)O | 488.70 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| Tormentic acid | 73193 | Click to see CC1CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CC(C(C5(C)C)O)O)C)C)C2C1(C)O)C)C(=O)O | 488.70 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / Aldehydes / Alpha-hydrogen aldehydes | |||||
| 2-(1,2,4a,5-Tetramethyl-2,3,4,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalen-1-yl)acetaldehyde | 13969952 | Click to see CC1CCC2(C(C1(C)CC=O)CCC=C2C)C | 234.38 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF0509308 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Epoxides | |||||
| (1R,11S)-1,5,5,8-tetramethyl-12-oxabicyclo[9.1.0]dodeca-3,7-diene | 132587053 | Click to see | 220.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(02)00207-8 |
| (1R,3E,7E,11R)-1,5,5,7-tetramethyl-12-oxabicyclo[9.1.0]dodeca-3,7-diene | 162903458 | Click to see | 220.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF0509308 |
| Humulene epoxyde | 5463721 | Click to see | 220.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(02)00207-8 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 7-O-methylated flavonoids | |||||
| 5-Hydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavone | 5281601 | Click to see | 298.29 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| Genkwanin | 5281617 | Click to see | 284.26 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
| Salvigenin | 161271 | Click to see | 328.30 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447917/ |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |