“A visionary of his day, his designs were revolutionary.”
Not only do we love Morris’ extraordinary textiles, we’re also big fans of William Morris the man. Often working at odds to the British Establishment, his radical ideas on design and society put him amongst the eminent reformers and visionaries of his age. Morris’ explorations in textile design led both to the revival of traditional crafts and the discovery of new methods. His designs were revolutionary, combining a force, purity of silhouette and elegance previously unseen. Morris’ respect for production processes and techniques took his designs beyond their surface intent, rooting them as genuine objects of truth and beauty – and as an avowed socialist, his romantic aim was to make this level of beauty available to all. A true polymath, Morris’ talent extended to poetry, typography, art, publishing and politics, but it’s his ground breaking textiles, which were at the heart of the Arts and Crafts movement, that show his true genius. London’s Victoria and Albert Museum boasts one of the greatest collections of Morris’ work in every medium, of which highlights can be seen in their British Galleries.
Today we marvel at the intricacy, vision and beauty of these designs. And they work equally beautifully at scale; we can enlarge and crop these designs to any size you require, to turn these timeless classics into a unique contemporary statement.
And as pattern takes centre stage in our V&A catalogue, with William Morris at its heart, we’re also featuring designs by Charles Voysey, Morris’ contemporary from the Arts and Crafts movement, as well as a range of sumptuous 1950s textiles and other fabric designs. Treat yourself to a feast of pattern.
Name William Morris
Collection V&A
Category Galleries & Museums
Date 1834 – 1896
Portrait photograph courtesy of V&A Images.
Sumptuous patterns, exotic treasures, stunning designs. Immerse yourself in the romantic world of the V&A, widely regarded as the greatest museum of art and design in the world.
“The British Design 1948-2012: Innovation in the Modern Age.”
British Design 1948-2012:
Innovation in the Modern Age.
British design is back in the spotlight. This stunning new exhibition at the V&A London is, as its name suggests, a celebration of the very best of British craft and design during a period of extraordinarily fertile creativity. Curated by the V&A, and sponsored by Ernst and Young, it’s an unmissable exploration of a half century of innovation and talent. In celebration of the exhibition, we’re delighted to collaborate with the V&A in unearthing a beautiful selection of rarely seen gems from the world of textiles. Drawing from their unrivaled national collection, Surface View and the V&A chose twelve patterns by leading textile designers of the period, including Barbara Brown, Karen Williger, Natalie Gibson and Eddie Squires, to name a few. Ranging in style from bright poppy waves and patchwork through subdued florals and foliage, to naïve designs, the collection reflects not only the plethora of markets that were being catered for at the time, but also how versatile, imaginative and constantly evolving were the fashions in pattern design during this period.
Catch the exhibition at Kensington from 31st March to 12th August and you’ll also see more Surface View at play. Part of the Surface View collection is featured within the V&A Pattern book series which focuses on British designers and the firms Heal’s, Liberty & Co and Sanderson, all three of which were leaders in the furnishing textile arena. Patterns from these books, as well as archive imagery, will be wrapped by Surface View onto the columns of the V&A Shop; a project to celebrate both the British Design 1948-2012 exhibition and our collaboration with the remarkable V&A Museum.
Sponsored by Ernst and Young.
Where, V&A Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL.
When, 31st March - 12th August, 2012.
How, find out more - www.vam.ac.uk
