Art Institute of Chicago

Lotus

Design attributed to May Morris (English, 1862–1938)

Date

Design by 1888, made 1888

Medium

Silk, warp-float faced twill weave; embroidered in satin and stem stitches

Department

Textiles

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

Frances Glessner was an avid embroiderer and made a number of decorative textiles for her house on Prairie Avenue. This large panel, which was a door curtain or portiere, was one of four such curtains used in the parlor of the house. In a diary entry of November 17, 1888, she wrote, “My curtains came home from the Decorative Arts Society,” which makes it clear that the design was purchased from Morris & Co. but embroidered in Chicago by members of the Decorative Arts Society, probably supervised by Mrs. Glessner.

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