13th October 2018
We love writing about William Morris – his life, his work and his legacy. There’s so much behind his work; from his inspirations and the pioneering processes that he achieved to print his fabric to his politics and literature and poems.
But – what might you not know about him? Here are our 10 quirkiest William Morris facts…
After a character in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”
One of the most famous muses of all time, he married Jane Burden They met after she was spotted by Rossetti and Edward Burne-Jones; friends of Morris’ and members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. They saw her in the audience of a theatre in Oxford and wanted her to model for their art – Rossetti decided she’d be perfect for his Queen Guinevere. Though initially resisting, she eventually sat for their paintings and was soon engaged to be married to Morris.
They had two daughters together; Jenny and May Morris.
As we said, Jane actually met Rossetti first. Though there was apparently an attraction between the two from the very beginning, he was already engaged to be married to Lizzie Siddal. Before he died, he did tell a friend that he went through with the marriage “out of a mistaken sense of loyalty and fear of giving pain” despite have fallen for another. Jane, from a poor family, couldn’t have rejected a proposal from a wealthy man and Morris, due to inheritance from his father, was a wealthy 24 year old who did adore Jane.
The charming Rossetti, following the death of Lizzie Siddal in 1862, woo’d Jane and she frequently modelled for him over the years. The betrayal didn’t end there – Morris and Rossetti joined a lease on Kelmscott Manor and it enabled Jane and Rossetti to become even closer. Over the years, it even caused Morris to take a trip to Iceland to both explore and clear his head away from what was going on at his home.
The affair was ended in 1876 following the decline of Rossetti’s health and addictions. When asked years later, Jane did admit to loving him. As a widow, she did confess she never truly Morris but never had any regrets as to the choice she made, “I suppose if I was young again I should do the same thing.”
A socialist, Morris was more than just a designer. In 1884, Morris founded the Socialist League. In 1885 he was even arrested for disorderly conduct during a socialist demonstration. He’s famously quoted, ““…I do not want art for a few; any more than education for a few; or freedom for a few…”
Along with his friend Edward Burne-Jones, they decided to become clergymen – their aim was to live a life of chastity and channel their energies into artistic pursuit. Ultimately, after a trip to Belgium and Northern France, they were inspired by Medieval churches and cathedrals and were inspired to dedicate themselves to a life of art instead.
He wrote of the venture – “Here is a new craft to conquer and to perfect.” Printing began at the press in Spring 1891. He designed multiple fonts including “Golden” Roman typeface and “Troy” Gothic type along with “Chaucer.”
He worked to create beautiful books in regards to their designs which took into account their type, image and decorative elements – you can see beautiful examples of what he achieved today if you do a quick search on the Kelmscott Press.
Along with Faulkner, W.H. Evans and Magnusson, in July 1871, Morris left for Iceland. He visited twice and helped to form and confirm his political views on the inequality of the classes after he saw the poverty levels here.
In April 1861, Morris, along with his friends; Edward Burne-Jones, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Philip Webb, Ford Madox Brown, Charles Faulker and Peter Paul Marshall, set up the decorative arts firm. It was in response to the fact he bought Red House and was unable to furnish it with textiles that were up to his standard and taste. He wanted to create and he saw an opportunity here. In March 1875, Morris disbanded the company and it led on to become Morris & Co. with the original partners working on their individual projects. However, lifelong friends Burne-Jones and Philip Webb remained producing designs for Morris & Co.
His designs remain popular across generations and years. You’ll be just as likely to see his designs being crafted into beautiful furniture in stately homes as you will seeing the designs adorning the walls in quirky cafes. You might have spotted that our fabric was featured on the Alan Carr Christmas special last year – a nod to the fact Morris’ designs are often seen on Gogglebox on the couch of one of the couples. This season, you’ll see his designs strutting down the catwalk as part of H&M’s latest collection. Though his legacy includes his literature, poetry and political vision, his designs are really popular today, if not actually growing in popularity and awareness. Influencing designers and artists of today, along with everyone else who simply love his designs.
He achieved so much during his life, from his designs to work in politics and his writing – not to mention his pioneering methods of production in printing both textiles and literature with the Kelmscott Press. He did so much that upon his death, his physician gave cause of death as, “Simply being William Morris, and having done more work than most ten men.”
Posted in William Morris by Laura
Did you know that in Japan where our projects are sold, our tea towels are used not only for being functional but for decoration - we love that they’re framed, or laid on the table as a centrepiece to be admired or hung as a draped item to bring some nature indoors 🌿 we thought we’d do the same by using the tea towel as a centrepiece for a simple cup of tea and very delicious piece of cake! 🍰
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With so many timeless designs and writings, we think Morris achieved his aim, don’t you? 🫶🏻
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Lazy Sunday mornings 💤 our William Morris Strawberry Thief tablecloths are now back in stock in all sizes if you fancy adding some floral magic to your table ✨ Hope you all have a lovely Sunday! 🩷
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A beautiful day on the beach; we had to take our incredible small Compton tote bag to carry a certain someone’s special treats that we got from the lovely @nationaltrust shop, can you tell he was very happy with them! 😂🫶🏻
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We’re going to have to look at this English summer through our rose coloured specs we think and set the table summery despite the rain!☔️🩷 We thought this made the perfect table setting; a bouquet with blooms out the garden wrapped in a Daisy napkin cone, doesn’t it look great! 🫶🏻 We’re going to put a small bunch at everyone’s seat and then they can take them home to enjoy at their houses 🌿
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✨ It’s the last day for 20% off our whole website! ✨ Use code: floralsummer at checkout on our website today only! 🫶🏻
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We’re thinking of selling our William Morris Daisy fabric by the half metre 🫶🏻 It’s a much narrower fabric than our usual fabrics, but we’ve had some customers interested in it in cotton and heavyweight for projects such as upholstery, curtain and dress making and quilting projects, what do you all think? ✨🌿
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✨✨ Offer extended ✨✨ We forgot to give you warning that our 20% off code was expiring and we thought it would brighten up some rainy July days, so now until the 14th July, take 20% off our website using code: FLORALSUMMER ☂️
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Always learning new napkin folds- anyone fancy a tutorial on how to make this little cutlery napkin jacket? 🍴🫶🏻 We’ve been using Willow Bough green and blue together on the table lately and we LOVE them together! 🌿 what do you think? Would you put them together on your table? ☺️
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These blooms 😍 We absolutely adore this design Charlotte Rose, it’s from our French archive that we lovingly restored to its former glory and bring out all year round for on the table- we paired it here with our Willow Bough green tablecloth and the greens and pinks go together so well 🫶🏻
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Cut this wonderful fabric stack yesterday 🫶🏻 All these beautiful Morris florals together in our heavyweight fabrics 🪡🧵
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Our biggest summer sale alert! ‼️ Fancy 20% off our entire website?✨ Including our timeless Morris Strawberry Thief licensed design and everything else in our collection, just use code; floralsummer at checkout, hurry, it ends on the 7th July 🫶🏻
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One of our favourite Morris quotes 🫶🏻
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Enjoying peony season with some fresh blooms 🫶🏻
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Breakfast featuring Strawberry Thief taking pictures whilst waiting for the toast to pop! 🍓
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The simple things in life- a coffee and biscuit in the garden with some flowers 🌷 swipe for a little someone who is all ears when the word biscuit is mentioned 😅🍪
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Can’t go on holidays without our Strawberry Thief windbreak to huddle behind! ⛱️ We upcycled this using the posts from our old one, if you’ve got one hanging about the garden shed, the how-to is on our blog so you can craft your own using our William Morris fabrics that we sell by the half metre 🫶🏻
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Bertie’s been loving Bridgerton and thought he’d pose with the wisteria wearing his Daisy cravat 😉
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When the audio accurately sums up how you feel about a design 🫶🏻 Beautiful Sweet Briar was first designed in 1912, we love the sweet little pink flowers in the climbing rose stems 🌹 This licensed Morris design is now back in stock, let us know if you’d like a sample! ✨
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Our William Morris Willow Bough green placemats are now back in stock! ✨ They’re a beautiful addition to the table for every meal time 🫶🏻
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