Name/Title
Floral Painted VelvetEntry/Object ID
2024.09.09.02Description
A piece of black velvet that has been painted and embroidered with a floral motif resembling water lilies. The embroidery threads, which are likely silk, outline the edges of the leaves and stems, provide veining on the leaf structures, and fill in the details of the lily petals. The threads are overpainted, emphasizing the artwork's textural nature. The velvet is secured to a stiffened backing, and a brown fabric has been wrapped around to the front to cover the edges.
Velvet paintings have been an art form for many centuries, with origins in the Kashmir province of India, where the fabric originated. The dark color of the velvet provides contrast for lighter colored paints. Velvet painting was a common hobby or “parlor art” for middle- and upper-class women during the 19th century, popularized in the European royal courts and spreading through commercially available instruction booklets. Widespread subjects included fruits and flowers, and were often used to decorate small personal items, such as purses, fans, and other dress accessories.Acquisition
Source (if not Accessioned)
John ChaneyLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
Painting, MiniatureNomenclature Primary Object Term
PaintingNomenclature Class
ArtNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsDimensions
Diameter
12-1/2 inCircumference
41 inLocation
Location
Box
Box 12Cabinet
Display Case 102Room
Charles Whipple Greene Historical CollectionBuilding
George Hail Free LibraryDate
September 9, 2024Condition
Overall Condition
FairNotes
The overall condition of this piece is fair. There is a layer of dust covering much of the velvet pile surface. Additionally, some of the painted areas have been rubbed off, so that the green paint appears blotchy. The backing fabric shows several areas of staining/bleaching/tide lines and has come unsewn from the front. The identity of the support material is unknown at this time but should be examined further.Recommendations
Vacuum surface with a conservation grade HEPA vacuum to remove surface accretions and dust. Test the interior support board for fiber content and pH level; replace the board if necessary to maintain the velvet's structural and chemical stability. Replace or resecure the stitching between the velvet and the backing fabric.Valuations
Valuation Type
EstimateValue
$50.00Date
Jul 23, 2025Create Date
September 9, 2024Update Date
March 17, 2026
