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Bird and Anemone

Wallpaper
1882 (published), 1881 (designed)
Artist/Maker
Jeffrey & Co. (manufacturer)
Morris & Co. (publisher)
Morris, William (designer)
Place of origin
England (made)

Specimen of 'Bird and Anemone' wallpaper, a pattern of intertwined anemone flowers and foliage, with repeats of two designs of perching birds; Block-printed in distemper colours, on paper; Inscribed on the back in ink with title, number and price.
Part of 'Volume 2', a pattern book containing 27 Morris & Co. patterns from 1862-81 (E.530-608-1919).

Object details

Categories
Wall Coverings
Prints
Object type
Wallpaper
TitleBird and Anemone (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
block-printed in distemper colours, on paper
Paper
Distemper
Block Printing
Brief description
Specimen of 'Bird and Anemone' wallpaper, a pattern of intertwined anemone flowers and foliage, with repeats of two designs of perching birds; Block-printed in distemper colours, on paper; Designed by William Morris; Printed by Jeffrey & Co. for Morris & Co.; Part of 'Volume 2', a pattern book containing 27 Morris & Co. patterns from 1882-96 (E.530-608-1919); England; 1882.
Physical description
Specimen of 'Bird and Anemone' wallpaper, a pattern of intertwined anemone flowers and foliage, with repeats of two designs of perching birds; Block-printed in distemper colours, on paper; Inscribed on the back in ink with title, number and price.
Part of 'Volume 2', a pattern book containing 27 Morris & Co. patterns from 1862-81 (E.530-608-1919).
Dimensions
  • Size of volume height: 68.5cm
  • Size of volume width: 53.3cm
Dimensions from: 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.
Style
Arts and Crafts (Movement)
Marks and inscriptions
(Inscribed on the back in ink with title, number and price.)
Credit line
Given by Morris and Co.
Object history
'According to the wallpaper logbook the first set was sent out on 15 June 1882. A printed fabric of the same name and design was registered on 17 June. A comparison of paper and textile reveals differences which are partly due to technique but which also indicate that straight matching was not intended.'
Linda Parry (see Bibliographic References).
Production
Within pattern book Volume 2 (1882-96).
This design was also used for a chintz.
Subjects depicted
Leaves (Plant Materials)
Flowers
Anemones (Flowers)
Birds
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.
  • 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.
  • 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
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.531-1919

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Record createdJune 11, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O248678/bird-and-anemone-wallpaper-morris-william/
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