Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C , Case MB2B, Shelf DR54, Box DW5II

Fruit

Wallpaper
1865-66 (designed), 1866 (produced)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

‘Fruit’ is one of the most enduringly popular of William Morris’s designs. It was used in many artistic homes of the period. It is still available from the Morris & Co. division of Sanderson, who own the original printing blocks. By the 1880s many writers of home decorating guides were recommending Morris papers, including the affordable ‘Art at Home’ series (1876-8). The frontispiece of Robert Edis’s influential book The Furniture and Decoration of Town Houses (1881) shows his own sitting room. You can see the Pomegranate wallpaper and other Aesthetic-style furnishings.

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Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • Fruit (assigned by artist)
  • Pomegranate (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
block-printed in distemper colours, on paper
Brief 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; 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 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).
Dimensions
  • Length: 68.6cm
  • Width: 50cm
Styles
Marks and inscriptions
(Inscribed on the back in ink with title, number and price.)
Credit line
Given by Morris & Co.
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'.
Subjects depicted
Summary
‘Fruit’ is one of the most enduringly popular of William Morris’s designs. It was used in many artistic homes of the period. It is still available from the Morris & Co. division of Sanderson, who own the original printing blocks. By the 1880s many writers of home decorating guides were recommending Morris papers, including the affordable ‘Art at Home’ series (1876-8). The frontispiece of Robert Edis’s influential book The Furniture and Decoration of Town Houses (1881) shows his own sitting room. You can see the Pomegranate wallpaper and other Aesthetic-style furnishings.
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.
  • 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.
  • Julius Bryant, ed. Art and Design for All. The Victoria and Albert Museum London: V&A Publishing, 2011. ISBN: 9781851776665.
  • 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
Collection
Accession number
E.447-1919

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Record createdJanuary 24, 2003
Record URL
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