Compton

Jeffrey & Co.|John Henry Dearle|Morris & Company|William Morris

1896 · Block-printed in distemper colors · Drawings and Prints

When he applied Arts and Crafts principles to wallpaper production, William Morris initiated a revival of the material in England. "Compton" was produced in 1896 for the house of Laurence Hodson, near Wolverhampton. Once believed to be Morris's last design, it is now recognized as the work of John Dearle, who managed Morris & Company's block-printing operations at Merton Abbey and succeeded Morris as director. The pattern is, nevertheless, a definitive example of the company style. Tulips and poppies are woven into a rich, flowing pattern inspired by, but not slavishly adherent to, natural models. The scale of the flowers indicates that the paper was intended for a large, ceremonial room, and the coloring is delicate despite the use of chemical dyes.

Artist

Jeffrey & Co.|John Henry Dearle|Morris & Company|William Morris

Date

1896

Medium

Block-printed in distemper colors

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Purchase, Edward C. Moore Jr. Gift, 1923