Indian thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 125c

Indian

Wallpaper Sample
ca. 1868-70 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
In Britain, paper printed with patterns has been used for decorating walls since the 16th century. By the late 19th century wallpapers were widely used by all classes, both in homes and in public buildings.

Design & Designing
The pattern of this Morris & Co. wallpaper is said to have been adapted from an early 18th-century wallpaper by an unknown designer. The source for this earlier paper was an Indian chintz (painted or printed cotton) pattern. There has always been a close relationship between wallpapers and textiles: in the 18th century wallpapers were designed to imitate the patterns and even the textures of embroideries, silks, brocades and velvets and other fabrics.

People
Although this wallpaper was produced by the company of William Morris, it was not designed by Morris himself. A letter from Morris's business manager suggests that this paper was the work of the architect George Gilbert Scott (1839-1897). In 1874 Scott was one of the founders of Watts & Co, a company which issued some wallpapers in a similar style.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleIndian (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Colour woodblock print on paper
Brief description
Specimen of 'Indian' wallpaper, a formalised foliate design, brown on a pink ground; Colour woodblock print in distemper, on paper; Possibly designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott; Published by Morris & Co.; Printed by Jeffrey & Co.; Part of a pattern book of 23 Morris & Co. patterns (E.3698-3704, 3706-3718, 3720-3722-1927); England; 1868-70.
Physical description
Specimen of 'Indian' wallpaper, a formalised foliate design, brown on a pink ground; Colour woodblock print in distemper, on paper; Inscribed on the back in ink with title, number etc.
Part of a pattern book containing 23 Morris & Co. patterns (E.3698-3704, 3706-3718, 3720-3722-1927).
Dimensions
  • Height: 68.6cm
  • Width: 50cm
Dimensions taken from: 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
Marks and inscriptions
(Inscribed on the back in ink with title, number etc.)
Gallery label
British Galleries: The source of this pattern was described in 1884 as an 'early 18th-century' wallpaper. This was in turn based on an Indian chintz. Several wallpapers adapted from earlier examples were designed and printed for Morris & Co.(27/03/2003)
Credit line
Bequeathed by J. R. Holliday
Object history
Originally in a volume, this paper was part of a set that was split up, E.3705, 3719-1927 are missing.

The source of this pattern was described in 1884 as an 'early 18th-century' wallpaper. This was in turn based on an Indian chintz. Several wallpapers adapted from earlier examples were designed and printed for Morris & Co.

Although this wallpaper was produced by the company of William Morris, it was not designed by Morris himself. A letter from Morris's business manager suggests that this paper was the work of the architect George Gilbert Scott (1839-1897). In 1874 Scott was one of the founders of Watts & Co, a company which issued some wallpapers in a similar style.
Production
Part of a pattern book containing 23 Morris & Co. patterns (E.3698-3704, 3706-3718, 3720-3722-1927).
Summary
Object Type
In Britain, paper printed with patterns has been used for decorating walls since the 16th century. By the late 19th century wallpapers were widely used by all classes, both in homes and in public buildings.

Design & Designing
The pattern of this Morris & Co. wallpaper is said to have been adapted from an early 18th-century wallpaper by an unknown designer. The source for this earlier paper was an Indian chintz (painted or printed cotton) pattern. There has always been a close relationship between wallpapers and textiles: in the 18th century wallpapers were designed to imitate the patterns and even the textures of embroideries, silks, brocades and velvets and other fabrics.

People
Although this wallpaper was produced by the company of William Morris, it was not designed by Morris himself. A letter from Morris's business manager suggests that this paper was the work of the architect George Gilbert Scott (1839-1897). In 1874 Scott was one of the founders of Watts & Co, a company which issued some wallpapers in a similar style.
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. 112. pl 94.
  • 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.
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design and Department of Paintings, Accessions 1927, London: Board of Education, 1928
Collection
Accession number
E.3706-1927

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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