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Indian

Wallpaper Sample
ca. 1868-70 (made)
Artist/Maker
Morris & Co. (publisher)
Morris, William (designer)
Place of origin
London (printed)

Specimen of 'Indian' wallpaper, a formalised foliate design in blue on a paler blue 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).

Object details

Categories
Wall Coverings
Interiors
Prints
Object type
Wallpaper sample
TitleIndian (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Colour woodblock print on paper
Printing Ink
Colour Woodblock Print
Brief description
Specimen of 'Indian' wallpaper, a formalised foliate design in blue on a paler blue ground; Colour woodblock print, 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 in blue on a paler blue 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
  • Average size of pattern book contents ( e.3698 3704, 3706 3718, 3720 3722 1927) height: 54.6cm
  • Average size of pattern book contents ( e.3698 3704, 3706 3718, 3720 3722 1927) width: 77.5cm
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 etc.)
Credit line
Bequeathed by J. R. Holliday
Object history
Bequeathed by J. R. Holliday.
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).
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.
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design and Department of Paintings, Accessions 1927, London: Board of Education, 1928
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.3709-1927

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Record createdJune 18, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O249416/indian-wallpaper-sample-morris-william/
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