Beautiful Useful Things - what William Morris made by Beth Kephart illustrated by Melodie Stacey

 

"Inside factories all around Britain textiles and dishes, tables and chairs were being mass produced - one thing looking just like the next thing, ordinary and cheap."

"But in William's workshop each pattern, wallpaper, tapestry, and rug, each stained-glass window was conceived by the heart and made by hand."

William Morris (1934-1896) taught himself the crafts of the Middle Ages. He made wallpaper, furniture, fabrics and carpets during a time called the Arts and Crafts Movement. He was also a skilled book maker working with new fonts and typesetting. 

This new picture book biography is quite interesting but I really wanted to know more. The main focus here is on the way William saw nature in his childhood which he then wanted to include in beautiful objects and decorations.  I almost need the publisher Thames and Hudson to produce book two with more detail about some of his famous designs and examples of the furnishings and wallpaper. You can read more here. And you can see inside this book here. 

The nature elements that appear as motifs throughout the artwork, coupled with detailed close-ups of the processes of whittling, sewing, and bookbinding, reveal just how much Morris’ art was connected to his appreciation of the beauty of the natural world. Kirkus

When I visited London I went in search of a William Morris design that I really like - The Strawberry Thief and that is why I was very keen to see this new book which explores the life and art of William Morris. I own a few things decorated with this pattern and my good friend has a beautiful bed quilt. I found a tiny example in the Victoria and Albert Museum. I found this small sample 60cm X 90cm.  Here is the caption from the display: Morris was inspired to draw this design after finding thrushes stealing fruit in his garden. This complicated and colourful pattern is printed by the indigo discharge method and took a long time to produce. Consequently, it was expensive to buy. Despite this it became one of Morris & Co.'s most commercially successful textiles and is now his most recognisable design.

And the information from the Victoria and Albert Museum goes on to explain: This printed cotton furnishing textile was intended to be used for curtains or draped around walls (a form of interior decoration advocated by William Morris), or for loose covers on furniture. This is one of Morris best-known designs. He based the pattern and name on the thrushes which frequently stole the strawberries in the kitchen garden of his countryside home, Kelmscott Manor, in Oxfordshire. Despite the fact that this design was one of the most expensive printed furnishings available from Morris & Co., it became a firm favourite with clients.

Later, on this same trip to London, I visited the William Morris Society & Museum, Kelmscott House, Hammersmith. There is also another museum - the William Morris Gallery, Walthamstow - which is also dedicated to showcasing this amazing designer.

When I was a child my mother sought out special wall paper designed by Florence Broadhurst. In a similar way to William Morris, Florence wanted to fill homes with beautiful patterns and colours. Perhaps someone will pen a picture book about her work too. Unfortunately no one thought to take photos in my childhood home and most of Florence's work was lost in a factory fire but the intriguing thing about the wallpaper my mum selected was that in one room it was a green leaf pattern on an off white background and in the neighbouring room (the kitchen) it was the same pattern reversed with a dark green background a off white leaves. I do wish I could share it with you.

There are tons of products available today with the Strawberry Thief design - I am not sure William Morris would approve but I am sure he would be amazed and possibly amused:

Phone case