Design for Carpet

Maker Unknown, British

Maker Morris and Company (British, 1861 - 1940)

Collections

William Morris Collection

ClassificationsDRAWINGS

Daten.d.

Mediumwatercolor and graphite on paper

Dimensions13 3/8 x 20 in. (34 x 50.8 cm.)

DescriptionCorner of russett carpet, small black flowers in outside border, stylized floral design within, showing green vines and foliage, with blue and yellow flowers; graphite sketch continues border.

Inscribedrecto upper right: "20 x 13/ to inch scale"; lower right: "No 2/ New Design [underlined] -/ would require painting"

Credit LineThe Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens

Label TextThis particular design for a border may be by Dearle, who was responsible for all new Morris & Co. carpet designs after 1890. The border shows the influence of historic Persian textiles in the formal ogee-shaped blossoms. These were motifs that Dearle frequently employed in his carpet designs of the late 1880s. Morris & Co. were able to offer a range of widths for carpet borders from nine to eighteen inches, even producing borders for staircase carpets.

Status

Not on view

Object number2000.5.431