Little Tree

Designerdesigned by William Morris (British, 1834 - 1896)

Maker Morris and Company (London, British, 1861 - 1940)

Additional Title(s)

Hammersmith Hand-knotted Carpet

Collections

ClassificationsDECORATIVE ARTS

Dateca. 1890

Mediumwool on cotton warp

Dimensions110 1/2 × 50 in. (280.7 × 127 cm.)

DescriptionDeep blue border with red flowers; palmette border, center of carpet has red field with central sunflower design, curving vines and daisy-like flowers.

Credit LineThe Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens

Status

Not on view

Label TextIn 1879, Morris relocated his looms from Queen Square to the converted coach house in his own backyard in Hammersmith. The carpets made for the short period between 1879 and 1881 bear the distinctive "M" mark with a picture of a hammer and waves (symbolizing the Thames). For these hand-made carpets, which the firm called "Hammersmith" carpets, Morris developed two-way designs that could be read from any direction, as seen here. This example also shows Morris "quartering" his design, or dividing it into four blocks, each of which mirrors its neighbors. The star-like medallions that appear at the center and sides of the design were based on Persian carpets, which exerted a strong influence on Morris's designs and technique. The carpet thickness, measured at twenty-five knots per square inch, made them very durable and worth their higher price tag.

Object number2000.5.511

Terms