Fabrics and Papers is now stocking the new William Morris Archive II collection which features recent adaptations of Morris’ tapestry and typography designs creating a collection that embodies the very essence of his era. The collection works well for both 21st century domestic and contract interiors.The wallpaper collection includes Strawberry Thief, one of Morris’ most famous designs for fabric which he was inspired to design after watching thrushes stealing strawberries from the kitchen garden of his countryside home, Kelmscott Manor, in Oxfordshire.
The beautiful Morris Lodden pattern was designed for fabric and was one of many designs created by William Morris between 1882 and 1885, all of which were printed at Merton Abbey.
The pattern of scrolling flowers and foliage has been faithfully reproduced from the original fabric in the Morris & Co archive.
Forest, available on both linen and velvet,is inspired by ‘The Forest Tapestry’ designed in 1887 at Merton Abbey, in South London, by Morris &Co’s three most senior weavers. ‘The Forest Tapestry’ depicts scrolling acanthus leaves, a lion, peacock, hare and fox, amongst bunches of wild flowers. This digitally printed adaptation of the tapestry takes some of the most charming elements and combines them with other references to create a repeating design.
Inspired by medieval tapestries, William Morris and his wife Jane first embroidered daisy motifs in 1860 for their home, Red House. Although Daisy was the second wallpaper to be designed by Morris, it was the first Morris & Co wallpaper to be hand block printed and proved to be one of the most popular of all ‘The Firm’s’ wallpapers.
Love is Enoughpays tribute to Morris’ many skills as a writer, poet and typographer. Morris believed that a beautifulbook came second only to a beautiful house. In this charming design the title phrase of Morris’ play ‘Love is Enough’, published in 1872, appears in Morris’ typeface set upon a pretty leaf pattern which is based on the wall design in the green Dining Room at the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Bird & Pomegranate was one of the last patterned wallpaper designs to be issued by Morris & Co and inspired by the much earlier design Fruit.
Designed by Morris, the original Pink and Rose wallpaper was hand block printed using two sets of printing blocks to create the vertical pattern repeat of 82cms. This large scale, stylised design has now been adapted as a furnishing fabric that recreates the subtle effects of the transparent inks used to print the original wallpaper. It is also now available as a wallpaper design.
The outstanding Acanthus block printed wallpaper is one of Morris’ most instantly recognisable designs and marks the beginning of a period in which he created large-scale designs for wallpaper. These often featured layered patterns and rich colours with vigorous curves and scrolling foliage to give a three-dimensional quality.
First printed in 1877, Chrysanthemum was heavily influenced by the national flower of Japan and was block printed on foiled paper which was lacquered, stamped and stencilled in oil colour, a technique to simulate the expensive Japanese Leather papers imported by Arthur Sanderson. Chrysanthemum was also printed using the traditional hand block printing method and it is from this that Morris & Co has now recreated the design.
William Morris, artist, philosopher, poet and political theorist, was one of the most outstanding and influential designers of the Arts & Crafts Movement and through his company, Morris & Co he produced some of the most fashionable and exciting textiles and wallpapers of his era.
All Morris & Co. prints and wallpapers are designed and made in the UK by highly skilled craftsmen and women with meticulous care and scrupulous attention to detail.
By exploring www.fabricsandpapers.com, customers can create their own schemes and request wallpaper samples from over 6,000 carefully selected wallpapers and fabrics. A dedicated design team is on hand at the end of a telephone line (01273 495500) to discuss customers’ individual requirements and offer help and advice.
Editors Note: For a look at Morris wallpapers in a building of the period check our Mini View of Standen
