24th March 2020
William Morris: Birthday Edition blog! Born on this day in 1834, there are very few artists that have had the impact, both for art and socialism, than William Morris. His contribution to British arts and design remains huge. His legacy spans not just design but also, literature, poetry, and a socialist legacy which really changed a lot about society at the time.
Today, you’ll have seen his designs in multiple places, from the walls of indie cafes to the catwalk with Marc Jacobs and H&M. We even went into Ikea the other day and his Willow Bough fabric was on the wall of one of the set ups! Today on the anniversary of his birth, we’re taking a look at the man behind the legacy.
Born in Walthamstow, Morris was educated at Oxford. Initially training as an architect, he went on to pursue his interest in the arts. Highly influenced by some of they key players in the Pre Raphaelite Brotherhood, including Rossetti, he became more influenced within the movement and arts in general.
Not only in textile design, Morris also worked in a number of crafts, including stained glass. Morris & Co. (Morris’s company) was commissioned for so many of the stained glass in stunning churches around England and other influential buildings such as St. James’s Palace in London.
In his personal life, he married Jane Burden in 1859. She was a very popular Pre-Raphaelite model, an unconventional beauty, you’ll have seen her in many of the Brotherhood’s work. This includes Morris’s La Belle Iseult and many of Rossetti’s pieces. One of Rossetti’s best known works Proserpine, portrays Roman goddess as the Empress of Hades following an abduction by Pluto.
She was condemned to be his wife – which, has been over the years alledged to be an allegory for Jane’s unhappy marriage with Morris. Indeed on Rossetti’s painting La Pia de’Tolomei, Rossetti left a Latin inscription. This translates to, “Famous for her poet husband, and famous for her face, may my picture add to her fame.” Of course the model within this work was Jane Burden.
Back to her relationship with Morris – they met in 1857 when she visited the Drury Lane Theatre Company in Oxford with her sister Elizabeth. It was actually Edward Burne-Jones and Dante Gabriel Rossetti who noticed her and asked if she would sit and model for them. She initially didn’t turn up and only when she bumped into Edward Burne-Jones again that she agreed. This was a turning point in her life; not only because she met her husband and lover (Rossetti.) But also, because it meant she’s memorialised forever in some of histories most famous art.
When Morris bought Red House, it was to become his families haven in the countryside. Located in rural Kent, Bexleyheath, he commissioned lifelong friend Philip Webb to build the house. If you’re lucky enough to be able to visit Red House, you’ll see what a beautiful job Webb did here. Dante Gabriel Rossetti wrote that it was, “more of a poem than a house.”
It was a unique design – an L shape with two stories and a high pitched roof of red tile. Interestingly, the servant’s quarters were larger than contemporary buildings. This is a clear and early indication of both Webb and Morris and their ideas regarding working class conditions and their socialist beliefs.
When furnishing the house, Morris couldn’t find home furnishings that he felt fit the house, it was this thought that led to the creation of ‘The Firm’ with his talented artistic friends, this company of course was, Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. which after a few years dissolved and Morris set up Morris & Co. The Firm produced a range of domestic furniture and wallpaper.
His work at Morris & Co. is perhaps how his legacy remains most, which is interesting since during his life he was best known as a poet. But during his years leading the company, he created beautiful textiles, created jobs that were forward thinking at the time in terms of how fair they were.
He opened Merton Abbey where he printed his own fabric in traditional methods. He back against Industrialisation, learning and perfecting the Indigo Dye Technique. J.W. Mackail wrote Morris became, “a manufacturer not because he wished to make money, but because he wished to make the things he manufactured.”
Influential as an interior designer, poet, writer, textile designer, translator and socialist activist. His life story is incredible and one that you wonder how he did it all in one lifetime! With adventures along the Seine and to Iceland, his life story spans so much. We’re forever grateful for the arts that he created such beautiful work.
We always keep one of his quotes in mind. “If you want a golden rule that will fit everybody, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” – William Morris.
Want to keep up with us on social media? We’ve love to have you! Remember to read through our other blogs on Morris if you have time! There’s way too much to fit into one blog…
Posted in News by Laura
The table is all set for a festive weekend dinner party 🎄 We used our William Morris Mallow design, doesn’t it look so perfect this time of year ✨ Featuring our latest floral arrangement 🌿✨
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If you’re looking for the perfect Christmas gift that will be used year-round, our kitchen sets of tea towels, aprons and ovengloves are sure to be a winner! 🌿
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#williammorris #williammorrisfabric #williammorrisfabrics #williammorrisfabricdesigns #interiordesign #ovenglove #ovengloves #christmasgifts #stockingideas #morris #strawberrythief
Have you had any festive table set ups yet? 🎄 This was our table last year for Christmas Day and our Strawberry Thief in Red has seen a lot of use throughout the year too at many a celebration 🌿 Isn’t it amazing how many events happen around the dining table- we may as well make it as pretty as possible! 🤍
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A pink and white Christmas theme on the table today with Charlotte Rose 🌹 It matches perfectly with our Nutcracker theme flower arrangement 🤍🩰
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#christmastable #christmastablesetting #christmastablescape #tablescape #frenchflorals #laurasbeau #floraldesign #floraltable #floraltablecloth
Did you know we offer a gift wrap service? 🎁 If you’ve got a loved one you’d like to send a floral gift to this year, you can send it straight to their door all wrapped with a note written by the Laura’s Beau elves 🎄🤶🏻 It’s an option on our website only and you can check the gift wrap box at checkout to write your gift tag that we will hand write for you (we also won’t include a reciept or anything of course, but will email it to you instead ✨) Are you giving any William Morris floral goodies to your friends and family this year? 🤍
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#williammorris #williammorrisfabric #morrisfabric #williammorrisfabrics #strawberrythief #christmasgiftguide #christmasgifts #floralgift #myfloralhome #myfloraltable #floraltablescape #christmastablesetting
Anyone else started on the mince pies this weekend? 🥧 We’ve been feeling rather festive the last week or so, are you all in the festive spirit yet or waiting until December? 🎄
📸 features our William Morris Brother Rabbit blue design 🤍
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To brighten up the kitchen with florals, we love hanging our William Morris tea towels on hooks, over the oven door or kitchen sink 🌿 An easy way to add a pop of colour or design ✨ They’re a great Christmas gift this year and come in a whole range of Morris designs to suit everyone’s kitchens 🎁
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#williammorris #williammorrisfabric #williammorrisdesign #williammorrisfabrics #floraldesigns #teatowel #christmasgiftideas #christmasgiftguide #floralgiftideas #willowbough #willowboughgreen
Use Code: BF15 for 15% at checkout until Monday 27th at midnight 🌛 Happy Shopping ✨ (valid on our website only; www.laurasbeau.co.uk 🌿
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#laurasbeau #williammorris #williammorrisfabric #williammorrisfabrics #fabrics #morris #preraphaelite #floralinteriors #preraphaelite #upholsteryfabric #curtainfabric #blackfriday2023
🎄 A Christmas table set up using our Red Strawberry Thief licensed William Morris design ✨ We love how perfect it is dressed up for Christmas but can be used all year round accessorised for all the seasons 🌿
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#christmas #christmastable #christmastablecloth #williammorris #williammorrisfabric #williammorrisfabrics #williammorrisdesign #strawberrythief #preraphaelite
Our virtual craft market is now live! ✨ Only on our Etsy page, you can now shop a limited range different sizes of our licensed William Morris fabrics as offcuts and also, some craft bundles🧵And there is also a pretty fabulous Black Friday deal on everything on our Etsy at the moment! 🌿We`re always working to be more sustainable (you can read more about what we do on our blog) and offcuts is a great way for us to reduce waste - some are larger pieces that are various widths and lengths and some are bundles of fabric offcuts. ✨ Accurate measurements are in the listing, and you`ll find the full market under a tab on our Etsy. The bundles are brilliant gifts for crafters, quilters and those who you know would like to try a whole range of William Morris fabrics 🎁
We`ll keep this tab updated as and when we have fabric ready so keep checking back! Remember, we do sell all our fabric by the half metre if you find a new fave in a bundle 🤍
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#etsy #fabriccrafts #sewers #quilters #fabricbundle #craftmarket #williammorris #williammorrisfabric #fabrics #floralfabric #fabricstack #fabricstash
Used for a very special engagement tablescape this past weekend was our timelessly beautiful Charlotte Rose! 🥂💍✨ It’s actually a design from our French archive, we absolutely love it ☺️ If you’re starting your Christmas shopping it’s a wonderful gift idea for them to love using all year round on their table 🥂
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#tablescape #tabledecor #engagement #frenchfloral #frenchflorals #floraltable #florals #floraldesign
A wonderful addition to the table, our placemats, available in a range of licensed William Morris designs, set the scene for a whole range of celebrations sat around the table 🥂
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#williammorris #williammorrisfabrics #fabric #fabrics #williammorrisfabric #willowbough #tablescape #myfloraltable #floraltable #preraphaelite #williammorrisdesigns
These green tones together are so lovely 🌿 Can you name all of these licensed William Morris designs? Which is your favourite? ✨ If you’d like a sample of any just let us know ☺️
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#williammorris #williammorrisdesign #williammorrisfabric #williammorrisfabrics #preraphaelite #preraphaelites #fabricstash #fabricstack #ukfabric #ukfabricshop #floralfabrics
Autumn tablescapes always brighten the home up this time of year ✨ This is our William Morris Compton design, always super popular it’s got the most beautiful colours within it ✨
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#williammorris #williammorrisfabric #williammorrisdesign #morrisfabric #compton #autumntablescape #tablescape #floraltable #myfloralhome #floraltablescape
🎃 Just a little pup in his pumpkin outfit to deliver a Halloween treat for you! Get 15% off our website with code: Halloween 👻 His little Strawberry Thief bandana is so easy to make from our fabric and always looks so cute on him, we need to make him one in every design! ✨ (discount code can be used only on our website until Sunday at midnight!) 🎃
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Functional + stylish, a tea towel thrown over the cooker or sink really does brighten up the kitchen - bringing some florals inside the home! ✨ This is our licensed William Morris Sweet Briar design, we absolutely love this delicate design with soft pink flowers 🌷
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A fabric stack full of William Morris licensed designs, which is your favourite? ✨
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#williammorris #williammorrisfabric #williammorrisdesign #williammorrisfabric #fabricdestashuk #fabricshop #fabricseller #fabricstack #strawberrythief
Sitting at the table to admire our latest floral arrangement creation with a cuppa! ☕️ Don’t these colours look absolutely wonderful with our beautiful licensed William Morris design Compton 🧡
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#williammorris #williammorrisfabric #williammorrisfabrics #fabrics #fabricdestashuk #floralfabric #floralfabrics #compton #preraphaelite #tablescape #flowerarrangement #floraltable #flowerarranging #myfloraldays
Back in stock- wonderful Golden Lily pvc fabric 🤩 Its a wipe clean material, so is absolutely perfect for the dining table 🍴 Available by the half metre in length, its 140cm wide, so fits most tables, an easy option whilst not compromising on beautiful William Morris florals! 💐
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Can’t forget your Strawberry Thief tote if you’re off to the shops! 🛍️
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#williammorris #williammorrisfabric #williammorrisdesign #williammorrisdesigns #strawberrythief #france #totebag #totebags #floraltote