Eden thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Eden

Furnishing Fabric
ca. 1909 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This abstract floral repeating pattern was designed by John Henry Dearle and block printed onto cotton by Morris & Company in about 1909. Dearle had worked for Morris & Co. since 1878, rising from shop assistant to designer after Morris trained him as a tapestry weaver. Dearle produced his first tapestry design in 1887 and by 1890 was the firm's chief designer. His early textiles were closely based on Morris's style, but his mature work, influenced by Near Eastern patterns, shows greater originality. He designed tapestries, carpets, embroideries and woven and printed fabrics and supervised most textile production up to and after Morris's death in 1896, and later became Art Director. Because of Morris's fame, Dearle's contribution was much neglected and his work often attributed to Morris.

Morris & Co. was founded by William Morris in 1875, producing textiles for sale in two London shops, manufactured from 1881 at Morris's Merton Abbey works.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleEden (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Block-printed cotton
Brief description
Furnishing fabric 'Eden' of block-printed cotton, designed by J. H. Dearle for Morris & Co., England, ca. 1909
Physical description
Furnishing fabric of block-printed cotton. With a symmetrical design of flowers contained in ogival compartments and arranged alternately. The main central flower in each enclosure is surrounded by small flowers and fruit. In the interspaces around each group are foliage, fruit and flowers superimposed on a brown stippled ground. Green, yellow and brown printed on white cotton. Along one selvedge is printed the registered name of Morris & Co. In the upper left hand corner is a label bearing the name of the pattern and the price of 3/10 per yard.
Dimensions
  • Length: 62cm
  • Width: 97cm
Marks and inscriptions
'REDG. MORRIS & COMPANY 449 OXFORD STREET LONDON. W' (Printed along the selvedge)
Credit line
Given by Miss M. Pettican
Summary
This abstract floral repeating pattern was designed by John Henry Dearle and block printed onto cotton by Morris & Company in about 1909. Dearle had worked for Morris & Co. since 1878, rising from shop assistant to designer after Morris trained him as a tapestry weaver. Dearle produced his first tapestry design in 1887 and by 1890 was the firm's chief designer. His early textiles were closely based on Morris's style, but his mature work, influenced by Near Eastern patterns, shows greater originality. He designed tapestries, carpets, embroideries and woven and printed fabrics and supervised most textile production up to and after Morris's death in 1896, and later became Art Director. Because of Morris's fame, Dearle's contribution was much neglected and his work often attributed to Morris.

Morris & Co. was founded by William Morris in 1875, producing textiles for sale in two London shops, manufactured from 1881 at Morris's Merton Abbey works.
Bibliographic reference
Parry, Linda. British Textiles from 1850 to 1900 London : Victoria and Albert Museum 1993. Plate 95.
Collection
Accession number
T.24-1955

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Record createdDecember 16, 2003
Record URL
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