Name/Title
Floral Painted Velvet SquareEntry/Object ID
2024.09.09.04Description
A piece of black velvet that has been painted and embroidered with a floral motif resembling red clover. The embroidery threads, which are likely silk, create the stems, provide veining on the leaf structures, and outline the petals of the clover flowers. The threads are overpainted, emphasizing the artwork's textural nature. The velvet is stretched over a stiffened backing, likely cardboard, to provide support.
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 ChaneyDimensions
Height
7-1/2 inWidth
7-1/2 inLocation
Location
Box
Box 12Cabinet
Display Case 102Room
Charles Whipple Greene Historical CollectionBuilding
George Hail Free LibraryDate
September 9, 2024Condition
Overall Condition
GoodNotes
The overall condition of this piece is good. There is a layer of dust covering much of the velvet pile surface. The front is turned to the back and secured with thread crisscrossing the back board; this thread is embrittled and may need replacing. 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 on verso if necessary.Valuations
Valuation Type
EstimateValue
$10.00Date
Jul 23, 2025Relationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Mary Merchant DewolfCreate Date
September 9, 2024Update Date
March 17, 2026
