Vine
Wallpaper Design
1873-1874 (made), 1873 (made)
1873-1874 (made), 1873 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Between 1872 and 1876 William Morris (1834-1896) designed 17 wallpapers, including `Vine’. He combined stylised natural elements with a subtle and complex geometric structure. His understanding of natural forms was based on close study. He also had passionate enthusiasm and energy. All this increased his skill as a pattern designer.
Morris’s papers were all printed by Jeffery & Co. of Islington, London, using wooden blocks. He annotated this design with detailed instructions. He wanted to ensure that the workmen would carry out his intentions exactly when they printed the paper.
Morris’s papers were all printed by Jeffery & Co. of Islington, London, using wooden blocks. He annotated this design with detailed instructions. He wanted to ensure that the workmen would carry out his intentions exactly when they printed the paper.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Vine (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | pencil and watercolour, on paper |
| Brief description | Design for 'Vine' wallpaper; Background of stylised willow leaves, overlaid and interwoven with a vertically meandering slender vine stem bearing, bunches of grapes and groups of leaves; The central portion of the design, a complete repeat, is fully worked and coloured and the beginnings of the adjoining repeats are clearly traced in; With working notes, in Morris’s hand; Pencil and watercolour, on paper; England; 1873-1874. |
| Physical description | Design for 'Vine' wallpaper; Background of stylised willow leaves, overlaid and interwoven with a vertically meandering slender vine stem bearing, in almost circular scrolls, bunches of grapes and groups of leaves; The central portion of the design, a complete repeat, is fully worked and coloured and the beginnings of the adjoining repeats are clearly traced in; Notes, in Morris’s hand, give instructions on the order of printing from the blocks; Pencil and watercolour, on paper. |
| Dimensions |
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| Styles | |
| Marks and inscriptions | Instructions on how to print from the blocks, in Morris's hand. |
| Credit line | Purchased with Art Fund support and assistance of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, and the Friends of the V&A |
| Object history | After publication as an ordinary distemper print, this design was brought out on a gold crape-embossed ground, a material which had earlier appeared in Jeffrey & Co.’s own range. It demonstrates the move into richer wallpaper effects and, at 40s. a roll, was extremely expensive (the ordinary distemper print cost 12s). Willow, issued in the same year, is a simple pattern derived from the backprint of Vine. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Between 1872 and 1876 William Morris (1834-1896) designed 17 wallpapers, including `Vine’. He combined stylised natural elements with a subtle and complex geometric structure. His understanding of natural forms was based on close study. He also had passionate enthusiasm and energy. All this increased his skill as a pattern designer. Morris’s papers were all printed by Jeffery & Co. of Islington, London, using wooden blocks. He annotated this design with detailed instructions. He wanted to ensure that the workmen would carry out his intentions exactly when they printed the paper. |
| Associated objects |
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| Bibliographic reference | 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. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.1074-1988 |
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| Record created | February 18, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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