Curtain
William Morris (Walthamstow 1834 - Hammersmith 1896)
Category
Textiles
Date
1937
Materials
Cotton, Tapestry, Wool
Measurements
3080 x 2700 mm
Order this imageCollection
Bradley Manor, Devon
NT 830861.1
Caption
William Morris is perhaps most remembered today for his wallpaper and textile designs. Interestingly Morris was unable to draw birds, which appear in many of his most famous designs, so his architectural friend, Philip Webb had to complete the designs with the necessary birds.
Summary
One of a pair (left) of William Morris tapestry curtains with bird design. Exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum, circa 1937. The Curtains are made from William Morris wool doublecloth. Both curtains are constructed from one and a half loom widths (185 cm loom width). The seams are hand stitched. Both leading edges have narrow hems for approximately 40 cm from the headings. The opposite sides have hems from the heading to the lower edges. They are unlined and hung by hooks attached to a twill tape. The separate panel (c) is constructed from three pieces of doublecloth; all the seams are machine stitched. The design is the same as that on the curtains but apparently, the fabric was bought later. This panel is hung by a metal pole through a sleeve of twill tape attached to the reverse. One of the pieces is a loom width (131 cm). A length of twill tape is attached to the left side reverse. The lower edge is cut and fraying.
Provenance
Accepted by HM Treasury in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the National Trust, Bradley Manor, 2002.
Makers and roles
William Morris (Walthamstow 1834 - Hammersmith 1896)