Textile
late 19th century
Classification
printed, dyed & painted textiles
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Robert W. Friedel
Accession Number
1951-103-24
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This exquisite textile from Morris & Co., a pioneering London firm founded by William Morris in 1861, exemplifies the late 19th-century Arts and Crafts movement. Active during the height of the Industrial Revolution, Morris & Co. championed handcrafted designs that revived medieval techniques and celebrated nature's beauty, countering mass-produced goods with intricate, nature-inspired patterns—often floral motifs like acanthus leaves or pomegranate fruits. Classified as a printed, dyed, and painted textile, this piece highlights the company's innovative methods: woodblock printing for precis...
About the Artist
Morris & Co., (London, England) ( ) · 1770 –1815
active ca. 1770–1815