William Morris Design Icon
William Morris was a painter, poet, designer, writer, and political activist. He was one of the founding members of the Arts and Crafts Movement and his works influenced the Art Nouveau movement.
In 1861 he and a group of like-minded friends built a company, Morris Marshall Faulkner &Co. They were underwhelmed by the shoddy mass-produced Victorian household decorative objects so decided to create their own. The quality and craftsmanship of their work meant that the firm quickly became highly fashionable and much in demand. With Morris designing textiles wall papers tapestry and stained glass. Morris took sole control of the company in 1875 when it became Morris &Co. due to the excellent reputation and high quality of the work the company was successful until 1940.
Morris is most famous for his wallpaper designs of which there are 50. These designs are intricate repeating patterns base on the nature William found in the British countryside, particularly the flowers and plants.
The designs were stylised rather than exact copies and, as many patterns and designs are, were an abstraction of nature. As mentioned, his work became a major influence on British interior design and went on the influence the Art Nouveau movement of Europe and America.
A sample of his wallpaper designs
His wallpaper designs started out with just three prints. Trellis, a pattern inspired by the roses growing up the wall at his house. This design came about because a frustrated William could not find a paper, he liked enough to decorate his bedroom with.
This was followed by Daisies in 1864 and fruit and Pomegranate designed in 1866
During the early part of 1870 he achieved mastery of his subject and produced some of his most famous prints. The are lavish and intricate designs creating a three-dimensional appearance. These designs were labour intensive and took up to four weeks to produce. Some using up to 30 printing blocks and 15 colours.
Wallpapers designed at this time include Larkspur 1872, Jasmine 1872, willow 1874 and Marigold 1876.
A Royal Commission
In 1880 he was invited by Queen Victoria to design a wallpaper for St James’ Palace. Given that this was a royal commission the design was, of course, Sumptuously rich in its finish. Using a total of 68 separate printing blocks for a section of only two wallpaper widths to a hight of 127cm. following this he was commissioned again to create a wallpaper for Balmoral Castle, this design was to encompass the VRI initials of the Queen.
Morris was a true artist and perfectionist not satisfied with dyes available for printing he spent much time bringing back the old and time-consuming methods for producing his work. He favoured organic dyes and all his wall papers were printed by hand using cared wooden blocks.
Pearwood was a favourite as it is soft enough to carve a complicated design and take the hammered brass banding used to create fine line and some of the detail but robust enough to survive the many reuses. The blocks were carefully lined up and laid down again and again to create seamless patterns. Wallpapers were made to order and could take weeks to produce.
He also taught himself tapestry and the art of textile work. The Strawberry Thief, a design inspired by the thrushes who would come to his garden and steal the fresh ripened fruit. This would become one of his most iconic designs.
