Lot 182
WILLIAM MORRIS (1834-1896) FOR MORRIS & CO.
'WANDLE' FABRIC PANEL, REGISTERED 1884
Auction: Design Since 1860 Day One | Wed 14th October | Lots 1 to 245
Description
indigo-discharged and block-printed cotton, framed
Dimensions
108cm x 99cm (frame size 119.5cm x 110.5cm)
Footnote
Literature: Parry, L. William Morris Textiles, V&A 2013, pp. 240-241, pl. 62
This indigo-discharge printed furnishing cotton was several years in development. Drawing began in September 1883, with trial printing continuing into March 1884, and the design was finally registered on 28 July. Named after the river beside Morris & Co.’s Merton Abbey Works, the large-scale pattern was intended to celebrate the stream that powered the works. Morris explained the choice to his eldest daughter: “if it succeeds I shall call it Wandle”, acknowledging that although the river was small, the design would be “very elaborate & splendid” and he wished to “honour our helpful stream.”