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Fruit

Wallpaper
1865-66 (designed), 1866 (produced)
Artist/Maker
Morris & Co. (publisher)
Morris, William (designer)
Place of origin
London (printed)

'Fruit' (or 'Pomegranate') wallpaper pattern, branches of fruit trees bearing fruit, including limes and pomegranates; Block-printed in distemper colours, on paper

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Discover more about this object
read William Morris and wallpaper design During his career, William Morris produced over 50 wallpapers. These designs – many of which feature in the V&A's extensive Morris collection – adopted a naturalistic and very British take on pattern that was both new and quietly radical.

Object details

Categories
Wall Coverings
Prints
Object type
Wallpaper
TitleFruit (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
block-printed in distemper colours, on paper
Paper
Distemper
Block Printing
Brief description
'Fruit' (or 'Pomegranate') wallpaper pattern, branches of fruit trees bearing fruit, including limes and pomegranates; Block-printed in distemper colours, on paper; Designed by William Morris; Published by Morris & Co.; England; First issued ca.1866.
Physical description
'Fruit' (or 'Pomegranate') wallpaper pattern, branches of fruit trees bearing fruit, including limes and pomegranates; Block-printed in distemper colours, on paper
Dimensions
  • Width: 50.8cm
  • Height: 44cm
Style
Arts and Crafts (Movement)
Credit line
Given by Sydney Vacher
Object history
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'.
Subjects depicted
Fruit
Branches
Lime
Pomegranates (Fruit)
Leaves (Plant Materials)
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, pp.206-207, ill.
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design, Accessions 1913, London: Printed for His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1914
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.2210-1913

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Record createdJune 19, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O250834/fruit-wallpaper-morris-william/
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