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WILLIAM MORRIS 1834- 1896 Photograph courtesy of William Morris Gallery, London |
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WILLIAM MORRIS was born the first son in a family of nine children in Walthamstow, northeast of London. He was raised and educated a child of Victorian privilege. He completed his formal education at Oxford and it was here that his life's direction changed from aspiring cleric to inspiring artist-craftsman and advocate for social change. He went on to live his life with immense energy and commitment. In 1859 he married Jane Burden and with Jane raised two daughters Jane Alice (Jenny) born 1861 and the following year Mary (May). |
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PENDLETON WOODWORKS |
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ABOUT WILLIAM MORRIS |
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TRELLIS, 1862. This is Morris' first wallpaper design. It was produced in 1864. The birds in the pattern were drawn by Philip Webb, architect and life- long friend of Morris. Morris was inspired by the rose trellis at Red House, his home in Kent. He later used the pattern in his bedroom at Kelmscott Manor. Arthur Sanderson & Sons is currently producing TRELLIS as both wallpaper and fabric. |
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DAISY, 1864 wallpaper design. Morris' second wallpaper design, and produced before TRELLIS. At a much later date Arthur Sanderson & Sons produced DAISY as a fabric. |
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FRUIT , 1866 wallpaper design. The pattern is also known as POMEGRANATE. At a much later date Arthur Sanderson & Sons reproduced FRUIT as a fabric. |
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WEB DESIGN Copyright © 2007 PENDLETON WOODWORKS |
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LIBERTY FABRIC PRICES: |
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Arguably everything Morris did was imbued with his views about art and craft and how both are at the heart of our lives as social beings. His views were iconoclastic, to some subversive. Morris' artistic range is very large but at its heart is good design. This was the case whether wallpapers, textiles, books or buildings. Of course he had support from many very talented and in most cases like-minded people. Among them were architect Philip Webb, artists Edward Burne- Jones, and Dante Gabriel Rosetti and pattern designer John Henry Dearle. We are, through this website, pleased to share in Morris' continuing legacy. |