Designed by John Henry Dearle (English, 1860–1932) and/or William Morris (English, 1834–1896)
Produced by Morris & Co., London (English, 1875–1940)
Merton Abbey, London (English, 1881–1940)
Severn
INV-3915
Designed by John Henry Dearle (English, 1860–1932) and/or William Morris (English, 1834–1896)
Produced by Morris & Co., London (English, 1875–1940)
Merton Abbey, London (English, 1881–1940)Design 1887–90; made 1887–1917
Arts and Crafts Movementbritish19th century20th Centurytextileweaving - printed
Date
Design 1887–90; made 1887–1917
Medium
Cotton, plain weave; block printed
Dimensions
67.4 × 79.3 cm (26 1/2 × 31 1/4 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Purchased with funds provided by Mrs. Theodore D. Tieken
The influential designer and manufacturer William Morris was a key figure in the Arts and Crafts movement, which arose in England during the 19th century in response to industrialization and a waning interest in traditional craftsmanship. He established Morris and Company to provide high-quality textiles and other domestic items that reflected good design. John Henry Dearle began as a shop assistant at the firm, but his artistic talents earned him a promotion to chief textile designer in 1890. Both Morris and Dearle were deeply influenced by historical textiles, especially those of Persia, Turkey, and Italy. Persian influence in particular can be seen in this fabric, in the way the elements are organized into two separate vine systems, one overlaid on the other.
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