A square white linen napkin with a design in light blue. A border of stylized lollipop-shaped trees and heart-shaped flowers is framed by wavy streams with small swimming fish. Curving, ornamental lines create small panels between the trees. The tops of the trees point in toward the central panel, where smaller trees anchored in sinuous lines are arranged in alternate rows with wavy spade-leaved plants. A white monogram is stitched in the upper right corner of the central panel.

See more objects with the tag , domestic, trees, delicate, art nouveau.

Object Timeline

1905	Work on this object ended.
2018	We acquired this object. We photographed this object.
2019	We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

Napkin, ca. 1900

This is a Napkin. It is dated ca. 1900 and we acquired it in 2018. Its medium is linen. It is a part of the department.

The composition of this napkin celebrates the natural resource of water, giving life to the grass and trees through their roots and to the fish swimming around this textile’s border. The Tree of Life was a common motif in the visual language of art nouveau, popular for its symbolism of strength, rebirth, and beauty. This textile depicts nature as an active and connected ecosystem, with trees and plants central to the story.

This object was donated by Suzanne McIntire. It is credited Gift of Suzanne McIntire.