Fruit

Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C , Case DW, Shelf 78, Box B

Artist/Maker	Morris & Co. (publisher) Morris, William (designer)
Place of origin	London (printed)

Specimen of 'Fruit' (or 'Pomegranate') wallpaper, design of fruit tree branches bearing oranges, lemons and pomegranates, with a blue ground; Block-printed in distemper colours, 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
Titles	Fruit (manufacturer's title) Pomegranate (popular title)
Materials and techniques	Colour woodblock print on paper Printing Ink Colour Woodblock Print
Brief description	Specimen of 'Fruit' (or 'Pomegranate') wallpaper, design of fruit tree branches bearing oranges, lemons and pomegranates, with a blue ground; Block-printed in distemper colours, on paper; 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; First issued ca.1866.
Physical description	Specimen of 'Fruit' (or 'Pomegranate') wallpaper, design of fruit tree branches bearing oranges, lemons and pomegranates, with a blue ground; Block-printed in distemper colours, 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. 'Fruit' was 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'.
Production	The 'Fruit' (or 'Pomegranate') design was the second paper designed by William Morris to be issued, produced in 1864. Part of a pattern book containing 23 Morris & Co. patterns (E.3698-3704, 3706-3718, 3720-3722-1927).
Subjects depicted	Branches Fruit Leaves (Plant Materials) Pomegranate Oranges Lemons
Associated objects	E.445-1919 (Colourway) E.446-1919 (Colourway) E.447-1919 (Colourway) E.448-1919 (Colourway) E.449-1919 (Colourway) CIRC.248-1964 (Design) E.3710-1927 (Colourway) E.3712-1927 (Colourway) E.2210-1913 (Colourway) E.2743-1980 (Colourway) E.2744-1980 (Colourway) E.2745-1980 (Colourway) E.2746-1980 (Colourway) E.2840-1980 (Colourway)
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, pp.206-207, ill. 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.3711-1927

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Record created	June 18, 2009
Record URL	https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O249426/fruit-wallpaper-sample-morris-william/

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