The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 16, 2026

A horizontal silk velvet textile fragment depicts two dragonflies in flight against a mottled emerald and turquoise background. Their wings are patterned with pink, purple, and tan patches, trailing dark blue segmented bodies. One dragonfly is positioned lower than the other amidst swirling green forms. To the far right, a vertical section of cream fabric is visible. The raw edges appear frayed, with colors bleeding softly into the velvet pile.

Stenciled Velvet

c. 1902–10
maker

Tiffany Studios

(United States, New York, 1902–32)
designer

Dorothy Marshall Hornblower

(American, 1886–1968)
America, New York
plain silk velvet stencilled with vegetable dyes
Overall: 11.7 x 34.3 cm (4 5/8 x 13 1/2 in.); Mounted: 18.7 x 41.3 cm (7 3/8 x 16 1/4 in.)
Gift of Joseph F. Sindelar 1948.101
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

This dragonfly design for a stenciled velvet fabric was likely used for drapery material.

Description

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.
  • ?-1948
    Joseph F. Sindelar, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    1948-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art
  • Tiffany in Bloom: Stained Glass Lamps of Louis Comfort Tiffany. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (October 20, 2019-October 4, 2020).
    Louis Comfort Tiffany: Artist for the Ages. The Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX (May 30-September 3, 2006); Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA (October 14, 2006-January 14, 2007).
    Design in Printed Textiles. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (April 7-September 3, 1961).
  • {{cite web|title=Stenciled Velvet|url=false|author=Tiffany Studios, Dorothy Marshall Hornblower|year=c. 1902–10|access-date=16 April 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1948.101