Water-lily textile

Art Historical Context

Step into the blooming elegance of the *Water-lily textile*, stunning silk piece woven and printed by Cheney Brothers in collaboration with Associated Artists between 1883 and 1900. This 29 x 25-inch panel, now housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, captures the Aesthetic Movement's passion for beauty in everyday luxury. Cheney Brothers, pioneering silk manufacturers from Connecticut, teamed up with the innovative design collective Associated Artists—founded by luminaries like Louis Comfort Tiffany Candace Wheeler—to create textiles that blurred the line between fine art and home decor. The medium shines here: high-quality silk, first woven for its shimmering texture, then meticulously printed with vibrant water lilies. This dual technique allowed for intricate, naturalistic floral motifs inspired by Japanese aesthetics and Victorian floral fascination, evoking serene ponds and exotic allure. Water lilies symbolized purity and renewal, making this piece a perfect emblem of Gilded Age opulence. As a gift to the Met in 1928, it highlights America's growing textile prowess during industrialization, when designers championed "art for art's sake." Imagine draping it in a parlor—its luminous blooms still whispering of innovation and nature's grace.

About the Artist

Cheney Brothers|Associated Artists (American|American) · 1838 |1883 –1955 |1907

American, 1838–1955|1883–1907