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Carpet Design

1880 (made)
Artist/Maker
Morris & Co. (designed for)
Morris, William (artist)
Place of origin
England (made)

Design for a carpet with birds and intertwined floral ornament and a border design with the motto 'Volo non valeo [quid nequeo quod desidero]'. Inscribed in pencil with motto in full, meausurements, notes etc.

Currently framed with E.48-1940.

Object details

Categories
Floor Coverings
Textiles
Designs
Drawings
Object type
Carpet design
Materials and techniques
Watercolour and bodycolour.
Paper
Distemper
Watercolour Drawing
Brief description
William Morris. Alternative design for a carpet for Naworth Castle with birds and intertwined floral ornament and a border design with the motto 'Volo non valeo [quid nequeo quod desidero]'. British, 1880
Physical description
Design for a carpet with birds and intertwined floral ornament and a border design with the motto 'Volo non valeo [quid nequeo quod desidero]'. Inscribed in pencil with motto in full, meausurements, notes etc.

Currently framed with E.48-1940.
DimensionsDimensions respectively 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. 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.
Marks and inscriptions
  • Volo non valeo [quid nequeo quod desidero] (Inscribed in pencil)
  • (Inscribed in pencil with meausurements, notes etc.)
Credit line
Bequeathed by Miss Mary (May) Morris, daughter of the Artist.
Object history
This is an alternative version of the design for the carpet woven for the library of Naworth Castle. For the final design see E.287-1939. The design os on paper water-marked 1880.
Bibliographic references
  • Labrusse, Remi. Islamophilie. L'Europe moderne et les arts de l'Islam. Lyon : Musee des Beaux-Arts de Lyon, 2011 112
  • John Murdoch and Susan Lambert, Summary Catalogue of Textile Designs 1840-1985 in the V. & A. Museum and colour microfiche, Surrey: Emmett Microform, 1986
  • 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.
  • 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
  • Botella-Gaudichon, Sylvette William Morris 1834-1896: L'Art dans tout Gent: Snoeck, 2022
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.47-1940

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O728835/carpet-design-morris-william/
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