Cellini
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Cellini
Origin/History
Originated with Mr. Leonard Phillips, of Vauxhall. An English culinary apple. It is a fine showy and handsome apple, resembling the Nonsuch, from which it was probably raised.
Tree
The tree grows freely, comes very early into bearing, and is usually loaded with fruit. It is one of the most useful and profitable apples.
Fruit
Size and Form
The two sources differ slightly on size: the Herefordshire Pomona describes the fruit as rather above medium size; Downing gives it as medium. Both agree on a roundish, oblate form; the Herefordshire Pomona specifies it is flattened at both ends.
Stem
Stalk very short (Herefordshire Pomona) / short (Downing), inserted in a funnel-shaped cavity.
Cavity
Funnel-shaped (Herefordshire Pomona). Downing adds that the cavity is slightly russeted.
Calyx
Large and open, with short, acute, and reflexed segments (Herefordshire Pomona). Downing concurs: calyx large, open.
Basin
Shallow (Herefordshire Pomona); the Herefordshire Pomona describes it as slightly plaited, while Downing describes it as corrugated.
Skin
Rich deep yellow as the ground color, with spots and patches of lively red on the shaded side, and bright red streaked and mottled with dark crimson next the sun, with here and there a tinge of yellow breaking through (Herefordshire Pomona). Downing describes the skin as deep yellow with streaks and mottlings of dark crimson.
Flesh and Flavor
Flesh white, tender, very juicy, brisk, and pleasantly flavoured, with a somewhat balsamic aroma (Herefordshire Pomona). Downing concurs: flesh white, tender, juicy, brisk, and pleasant. Rated Very Good by Downing.
Core/Seeds
Not described in source.
Season
The two sources differ slightly: Herefordshire Pomona gives October and November; Downing gives September and October.
Uses
Eats well from the tree, but its chief use is as a culinary apple of the first quality.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)
- CELLINI.
This very useful apple originated with Mr. Leonard Phillips, of Vauxhall.
Description.—Fruit, rather above medium size ; roundish and flattened at both ends. Skin, rich deep yellow, with spots and patches of lively red on the shaded side, and bright red streaked and mottled with dark crimson next the sun, with here and there a tinge of yellow breaking through. Eye, large and open, with short, acute, and reflexed segments, and set in a shallow and slightly plaited basin. Stalk, very short, inserted in a funnel shaped cavity. Flesh, white, tender, very juicy, brisk and pleasantly flavoured, with a somewhat balsamic aroma.
This is one of the most useful and profitable apples. It eats well from the tree, but its chief use is as a culinary apple of the first quality. It is in season during October and November. The tree grows freely, comes very early into bearing, and is usually loaded with fruit. It is a fine showy and handsome apple, resembling the Nonsuch, from which it was probably raised.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Cellini.
An English culinary Apple.
Fruit medium, roundish oblate, deep yellow, with streaks and mottlings of dark crimson. Stalk short. Cavity slightly russeted. Calyx large, open. Basin corrugated. Flesh white, tender, juicy, brisk, and pleasant. Very good. September, October.