Fruit; Pomegranate

Physical description

'Fruit' (or 'Pomegranate') wallpaper pattern, branches of fruit trees bearing fruit, including limes and pomegranates, on a pale ground; Block-printed in distemper colours, on paper; Inscribed on the back in ink with title, number and price.
Part of Volume 1, a pattern book containing 25 Morris & Co. patterns from 1862-81 (E.441-529-1919).

Place of Origin

England, Great Britain (made)

Date

1865-66 (designed)
1866 (produced)

Artist/maker

Morris & Co. (designer)
Jeffrey (manufacturer)

Materials and Techniques

block-printed in distemper colours, on paper

Dimensions

Height: 68.5 cm size of volume : from Oman and Hamilton, Width: 53.3 cm size of volume : from Oman and Hamilton, Height: 68.6 cm from Parry, Width: 50 cm from Parry

Object history note

Possibly the second paper designed by Morris to be issued. The serial numbering in the printing log places it between Daisy and Trellis. However, Linda Parry (see references) cites Mackail's notes that suggest that the design was made 'no earlier than 1865'.

Historical context note

From one of two pattern books containing patterns including different colourways.

Descriptive line

'Fruit' (or 'Pomegranate') wallpaper pattern, branches of fruit trees bearing fruit, including limes and pomegranates, on a pale ground; Block-printed in distemper colours, on paper; Part of 'Volume 1', a pattern book containing 25 Morris & Co. patterns from 1862-81 (E.441-529-1919); England; First issued ca.1866.

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Oman, Charles C., and Hamilton, Jean. Wallpapers: a history and illustrated catalogue of the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: Sotheby Publications, in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982.
The relevant text of the entry is as follows:

'1065
Two pattern books, containing patterns (25 and 27, on 168 sheets, including different colourways): each inscribed on the back in ink with title, number and price
1862-96
68.5 x 53.3 cm (size of each volume)
Given by Morris & Co.
E.441-608-1919

These are the original patterns as kept together by William Morris. The numbers after the names of the patterns are taken from Morris & Co.’s log books.

Volume 1 (1862-81)

...

'Fruit' (or 'Pomegranate'), 1862, produced 1864 (E.445-449). The second paper to be issued. SE, pl 11 (colour); FC, no 2. Another portion is Circ.248-1964.'

NB: Within this book there is a handwritten comment that it would be ‘unlikely’that these patterns would have been kept together specifically by William Morris.

'SE' refers to; Sugden, A. V., and Edmondson, J. L. A History of English Wallpaper. 1509-1914. London, 1926.

'FC' refers to; Clark, Fiona. William Morris Wallpapers and Chintzes. New York. 1973.
Parry, Linda, ed. William Morris London : Philip Wilson in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996. Published to coincide with an exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum, 9 May-1 Sept. 1996, pp.206-207, ill.
The full text of the entry is as follows:

L.3 Wallpaper sample, Fruit (also known as Pomegranate), 5
Designed by William Morris; designed and first issued c. 1866
Printed by Jeffrey & Co. for Morris Marshall, Faulkner & Co.
Block-printed in distemper colours, 68.6 x 50.0 cm
V&A (E.446-1919)
Given by Morris & Co.

This pattern is usually given an earlier date because the serial numbering in the printing log places it between Daisy and Trellis. Mackail, however states (p.176) that Morris was seen at Queen Square working on the design for Pomegranate in 1866. Mackail's notes also show that Campfield, the firm's foreman, recollected the design being made at Queen Square (i.e. no earlier than 1865). There are strong resemblances between Fruit and the painted panels that form part of the decoration of the Green Dining Room at the South Kensington Museum, 1866. A letter from Warrington Taylor, probably of 1867 (NAL 86.SS.57) calls it 'our last new paper'.

The design is built up of the repetition of four rectangular elements. It appears more complex than Daisy because of the diagonally thrusting branches and because leaves from each rectangle creep into the adjoining spaces. Two versions for the design are recorded (see The Arts Council, Morris and Company Centenary, 1961) but their current whereabouts are unknown.'

‘Mackail’ refers to: Mackail, J. W. The Life of William Morris. London, 1899.

Exhibition History

Morris to Mingei (Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art, Nagoya 05/06/2009-16/08/2009)
Morris to Mingei (Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo 24/01/2009-05/04/2009)
Morris to Mingei (Kyoto National Museum of Modern Art 12/09/2008-09/11/2008)

Production Note

Part of Volume 1, a pattern book containing 25 Morris & Co. patterns from 1862-81 (E.441-529-1919).

Materials

Paper; Distemper

Techniques

Block printing

Subjects depicted

Fruit; Branches; Pomegranates (fruit); Lime

Categories

Prints; Wall coverings

Collection code

PDP