Loddon

Designerdesigned by William Morris (British, 1834 - 1896)

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

Collections

William Morris Collection

ClassificationsDRAWINGS

Dateca. 1884

Mediumink and wash on paper

Dimensions15 1/4 x 11 in. (38.7 x 27.9 cm.)

DescriptionSeparation drawing of four blossoms, including small daisies and carnations.

Inscribedrecto upper right: "Loddon 6561"; lower right: "Loddon Chintz 1884" verso in red by Sandy Berger: "H111"

Credit LineThe Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens

Status

Not on view

Label TextThis was one in a series of fabrics named for the various tributaries of the Thames river. Others included Wandle, Medway, Lea, Wey, and Evenlode. Morris has used familiar British flowers in the design, including the carnation, tulip, and English rose. The drawing may have been used either to train apprentices in the printing workshops or designed as an aid for the block-cutters to give greater clarity of details. The firm often sold several color variations, or "colorways," of a particular fabric, as seen in these three samples of Loddon. The Huntington William Morris Collection also contains samples of six colorways of Lea.

Object number2000.5.506