Ispahan
Furnishing Fabric
ca. 1888 (made)
ca. 1888 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The perception of John Henry Dearle’s (1860–1932) importance as a designer suffered for many years from his close association with William Morris and Morris & Co. His designs have often been wrongly attributed to Morris, in part through ignorance and in part due to deliberate deception when the firm fell on hard times.
This woollen fabric, called ‘Ispahan’, was designed by Dearle, but shown as a William Morris design at the 1896 Exhibition. In fact, Dearle was responsible for designing all new textiles produced by Morris & Co from 1888. He produced 38 new repeating patterns for the loom, more than double that provided by Morris.
Dearle’s traditional style, influenced not only by Morris’ own work but also by a study of historical patterns, was well suited to the technique of weaving. His patterns show strong symmetrical forms using known repeating devises of the type seen in ancient patterns from Persia, Turkey and Italy.
This woollen fabric, called ‘Ispahan’, was designed by Dearle, but shown as a William Morris design at the 1896 Exhibition. In fact, Dearle was responsible for designing all new textiles produced by Morris & Co from 1888. He produced 38 new repeating patterns for the loom, more than double that provided by Morris.
Dearle’s traditional style, influenced not only by Morris’ own work but also by a study of historical patterns, was well suited to the technique of weaving. His patterns show strong symmetrical forms using known repeating devises of the type seen in ancient patterns from Persia, Turkey and Italy.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Ispahan (manufacturer's title) |
| Materials and techniques | Wool |
| Brief description | Furnishing fabric 'Ispahan' of wool, designed by John Henry Dearle for Morris & Co., ca. 1888 |
| Physical description | Furnishing fabric of wool. With stems of flowers in large ogival compartments, and with large palmettes at the points of intersections. In pink, blue, yellow and green. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Credit line | Given by the Kunstgewerbe Museum |
| Object history | This design shows strong Islamic influences in both motif and colour. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | The perception of John Henry Dearle’s (1860–1932) importance as a designer suffered for many years from his close association with William Morris and Morris & Co. His designs have often been wrongly attributed to Morris, in part through ignorance and in part due to deliberate deception when the firm fell on hard times. This woollen fabric, called ‘Ispahan’, was designed by Dearle, but shown as a William Morris design at the 1896 Exhibition. In fact, Dearle was responsible for designing all new textiles produced by Morris & Co from 1888. He produced 38 new repeating patterns for the loom, more than double that provided by Morris. Dearle’s traditional style, influenced not only by Morris’ own work but also by a study of historical patterns, was well suited to the technique of weaving. His patterns show strong symmetrical forms using known repeating devises of the type seen in ancient patterns from Persia, Turkey and Italy. |
| Bibliographic reference | Linda Parry, 'Textiles of the Arts and Crafts Movement' (London: Thames and Hudson, 1988), p.122 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.111-1953 |
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| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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