Stenciled Velvet

c. 1902–10

Stenciled Velvet, c. 1902–10. Dorothy Marshall Hornblower (American, 1886–1968), Tiffany Studios (American, New York, 1902–1932). Plain silk velvet stencilled with vegetable dyes; overall: 22 x 30.8 cm (8 11/16 x 12 1/8 in.); mounted: 28.6 x 36.8 cm (11 1/4 x 14 1/2 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Joseph F. Sindelar 1948.102 Textiles formed a large part of Louis Comfort Tiffany's artistic production, especially since he used many of them in his designs for artistic interiors. His clients included many society notables, institutions, churches, and even the White House. Tiffany employed many women artisans in his business, including Dorothy Marshall Hornblower, who oversaw the textile department and likely designed this ethereal Art Nouveau pattern. This morning glory pattern stenciled velvet was likely used for drapery fabric.