Physical description
'Fruit' (or 'Pomegranate') wallpaper pattern, branches of fruit trees bearing fruit, including limes and pomegranates, on a blue 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
William Morris, born 1834 - died 1896 (designer)
Jeffrey (manufacturer)
Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. (retailer)
Morris & Co. (publisher)
Materials and Techniques
block-printed in distemper colours, on paper
Dimensions
Length: 68.6 cm, Width: 50 cm
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'.
Descriptive line
'Fruit' (or 'Pomegranate') wallpaper pattern, branches of fruit trees bearing fruit, including limes and pomegranates, on a blue 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.
Saunders, Gill. Wallpaper in Interior Decoration. V&A Publications. London. 2002. pp. 111. pl 92.
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.
Julius Bryant, ed. Art and Design for All. The Victoria and Albert Museum London: V&A Publishing, 2011. ISBN: 9781851776665.
Exhibition History
The Victoria and Albert Museum: Art and Design For All (Museum of Applied Arts, Budapest 14/06/2012-16/09/2012)
The Victoria and Albert Museum: Art and Design For All (Kunst und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Bonn 18/11/2011-15/04/2012)
Materials
Paper; Distemper
Techniques
Block printing
Subjects depicted
Flowers; Fruit; Branches; Pomegranate; Lime
Categories
Prints; Wall coverings
Collection code
PDP
