Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Not currently on display at the V&A
On short term loan out for exhibition

Fruit

Wallpaper
1865-66 (designed), 1866 (produced)
Artist/Maker
Morris & Co. (designer)
Morris & Co. (publisher)
Jeffrey & Co. (manufacturer)
Place of origin
England (made)

'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).


Object details

Categories
Wall Coverings
Prints
Object type
Wallpaper
Titles
  • Fruit (assigned by artist)
  • Pomegranate (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
block-printed in distemper colours, on paper
Pencil
Paper (Fiber Product)
Block Printing
Brief 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; Part of 'Volume 1', a pattern book containing 25 Morris & Co. patterns from 1862-81 (E.441-529-1919); England; First issued ca.1866.
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).
Dimensions
  • Height: 19cm
  • Width: 13.4cm
Dimensions respectively from: 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. 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.
Style
Arts and Crafts (Movement)
Marks and inscriptions
(Inscribed on the back in ink with title, number and price)
Credit line
Given by Morris and Company
Object history
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
From one of two pattern books containing patterns including different colourways.
Production
Part of Volume 1, a pattern book containing 25 Morris & Co. patterns from 1862-81 (E.441-529-1919).
Subjects depicted
Branches
Pomegranates (Fruit)
Lime
Fruit
Associated objects
Bibliographic references
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design & Department of Paintings, Accessions 1919, London: Printed Under the Authority of His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1921
  • Botella-Gaudichon, Sylvette William Morris 1834-1896: L'Art dans tout Gent: Snoeck, 2022
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.446-1919

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Record createdSeptember 28, 2007
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O139650/fruit-wallpaper-morris--co/
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