Corner seat
Morris & Co.
Category
Furniture
Date
1870 - 1899
Materials
Mahogany, tapestry and wool
Measurements
86 x 175 x 143 cm
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Wightwick Manor, West Midlands
NT 1288324
Summary
A mahogany L-shaped corner sofa square-section tapering legs. British, late 19th century, the padded back and seat are upholstered in Morris & Co. 'Peacock and Dragon' woven wool blue fabric. 'Peacock and Dragon' was designed by William Morris in 1878 with the sofa upholstered in the fabric in 1893. The design is thought to be one of Morris's favourites.
Full description
A mahogany L-shaped corner sofa square-section tapering legs. British, late 19th century, the padded back and seat are upholstered in Morris & Co. 'Peacock and Dragon' woven wool blue fabric. 'Peacock and Dragon' was designed by William Morris in 1878 with the sofa upholstered in the fabric in 1893. The design is thought to be one of Morris's favourites. The formal pairing of birds and dragons was partly inspired by historic Italian silks, though the colour scheme also echoes Islamic art. Morris thought all designers should take inspiration from the past, using their own inventiveness as well to avoid pastiche.
Provenance
In 1937 Sir Geoffrey Mander and his wife Rosalie gifted Wightwick Manor, its contents and gardens to the National Trust. Sir Geoffrey and his family continued to occupy and manage Wightwick adding to the collection in collaboration with the National Trust. Sir Geoffrey died in 1962 but Lady Mander continued to live at Wightwick until her death in 1988. This sofa is listed in the Wightwick Manor 1937 inventory.
Makers and roles
Morris & Co., manufacturer