Carpet
1889 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This hand-knotted carpet is the first weaving of a design made by William Morris and his assistant J.H. Dearle. Two later weavings of the design were made. All of Morris & Co.'s hand-knotted carpets are called 'Hammersmiths' after the location of his London home, where they were first woven.
This example is part of the Morris & Co. furnishings for Bullerswood in Chislehurst in Kent, the home of wool trader John Sanderson. Built in 1866 the house was later altered by Ernest Newton. Two Hammersmith carpets were ordered for the house, one for the hall and this one, designed for the drawing room. Museum records dating from a visit to the house in 1921 state 'it appears that the drawing room was decorated by William Morris under his personal supervision and nothing was allowed to be placed in it in addition to objects executed by himself'.
Although Morris believed that Persian carpets were the greatest ever made, he adopted the coarser Turkish (Ghiordes) knot for his own hand-knotted carpet manufacture. They were woven at a thickness of 25 knots to the square inch. The design includes many motif devised by Morris for carpets. It also shows later, more formal elements characteristic of Henry Dearle's work. There is a strong possibility, therefore, that the carpet was a collaborative project.
This example is part of the Morris & Co. furnishings for Bullerswood in Chislehurst in Kent, the home of wool trader John Sanderson. Built in 1866 the house was later altered by Ernest Newton. Two Hammersmith carpets were ordered for the house, one for the hall and this one, designed for the drawing room. Museum records dating from a visit to the house in 1921 state 'it appears that the drawing room was decorated by William Morris under his personal supervision and nothing was allowed to be placed in it in addition to objects executed by himself'.
Although Morris believed that Persian carpets were the greatest ever made, he adopted the coarser Turkish (Ghiordes) knot for his own hand-knotted carpet manufacture. They were woven at a thickness of 25 knots to the square inch. The design includes many motif devised by Morris for carpets. It also shows later, more formal elements characteristic of Henry Dearle's work. There is a strong possibility, therefore, that the carpet was a collaborative project.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Hand-knotted with woollen pile on a cotton warp |
| Brief description | Morris, William. "Bullerswood Carpet" |
| Physical description | Wool carpet |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Given by J. Sanderson |
| Object history | Designed by William Morris (born in London, 1834, died there in 1896) and John Henry Dearle (born in 1860, died in 1932); made by Morris & Co., Merton Abbey, near Wimbledon, London Made for Bullerswood, Chislehurst, Kent; the house was decorated by Morris & Co under Morris's personal supervision |
| Production | Designed by William Morris (born in London, 1834, died there in 1896) and John Henry Dearle (born in 1860, died in 1932); made by Morris & Co., Merton Abbey, near Wimbledon, London |
| Summary | This hand-knotted carpet is the first weaving of a design made by William Morris and his assistant J.H. Dearle. Two later weavings of the design were made. All of Morris & Co.'s hand-knotted carpets are called 'Hammersmiths' after the location of his London home, where they were first woven. This example is part of the Morris & Co. furnishings for Bullerswood in Chislehurst in Kent, the home of wool trader John Sanderson. Built in 1866 the house was later altered by Ernest Newton. Two Hammersmith carpets were ordered for the house, one for the hall and this one, designed for the drawing room. Museum records dating from a visit to the house in 1921 state 'it appears that the drawing room was decorated by William Morris under his personal supervision and nothing was allowed to be placed in it in addition to objects executed by himself'. Although Morris believed that Persian carpets were the greatest ever made, he adopted the coarser Turkish (Ghiordes) knot for his own hand-knotted carpet manufacture. They were woven at a thickness of 25 knots to the square inch. The design includes many motif devised by Morris for carpets. It also shows later, more formal elements characteristic of Henry Dearle's work. There is a strong possibility, therefore, that the carpet was a collaborative project. |
| Bibliographic reference | Parry, Linda, ed. William Morris. London: Philip Wilson Publishers Limited, 1996. 384 p., ill. ISBN 0856674419 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.31-1923 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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