Made up of a collection of luxurious velvet designs inspired by original archive patterns, each Wardle Velvet coordinates beautifully with one of the twelve inaugural Morris & Co. plains…
One of William Morris’s most admirable qualities was his diligent understanding of every art offered by his company, Morris & Co. From tapestry weaving to fabric dyeing, he ensured that before his firm manufactured anything, he could make it himself. One way Morris kept adding to his brimming skillset was by persuading makers to adopt him as their student. One such maker was Thomas Wardle. A second-generation fabric manufacturer from Leek in Staffordshire, Morris frequently lodged with the Wardles between 1875-1878, writing of his learnings that he was “taking in dyeing at every pore.”
The designers behind the collection have been inspired by Morris’s ability to learn and master new crafts through creative collaboration, while engaging in constant dialogue with a vast craft history and utilising the Sanderson toolkit of UK factories and craftspeople in elevating velvet design to a level of astonishing quality.
Image credit: Sanderson Design Group
Featuring the same glorious, boldly scaled artichoke heads of J.H. Dearle’s 1898 original, this highly ornamental design receives some of the richest colour treatment of any Morris & Co. velvet. Printed at its Grade II listed factory in Lancashire, a darkly dyed backdrop dramatically foregrounds Dearle’s virile
Artichoke pattern. Ideal for use in upholstery and drapery.
Image credit: Sanderson Design Group
Originally imagined as a wallpaper available for the low price of 4 shillings and sixpence in 1879, Sunflower has been translated onto sumptuous velvet fabric. In no less than seven colour choices, Sunflower’s radiant pattern of flowerheads and flowing vine forms offer an irresistible decorating story for the home. Ideal for use in upholstery and drapery.
Image credit: Sanderson Design Group
A work of exquisite craftspersonship involving skilled artisans from across the world, the Bluebell Velvet Embroidery sparkles with jewel-like colour and detail. Featuring gradient stitching for a high degree of realism, this remarkable fabric is a contemporary reinvention of William Morris’s 1876 Bluebell. Perfect for use in upholstery and most drapery projects.
A staple plain of undeniable quality and versatility, the Wardle Velvet instils confidence in any upholstery and drapery project. Available in a range of 12 colour possibilities, the collection presents endless decorating stories as a coordinate fabric or leading textile. Each colourway is made to coordinate with the namesake hue in the Morris & Co. Paint range.
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Main image credit: Sanderson Design Group
