William Morris was one especially imaginative English poet, writer, translator and textile designer. He lived in the nineteenth century. He was born in Walthamstow, Essex, in 1834, in wealthy middle class family. His father was a financier, and his mother descended from bourgeois family. William Morris designs have revived traditional textile arts and methods of production.
In early years, while he was still in Oxford, he was highly interested in medieval architecture. He met one of his closest friends then, a guy named Edward Burne-Jones. After finishing Oxford, he got job as an apprentice in George Edmund Street's studio. Street was an architect mainly interested in Neo Gothic. Phillip Web was working there at the time, and they became close friends.
Together with Web, he designed his first family home, in a place called Bexleyheath, maybe ten miles from London. Unusual L shape, uncharacteristic for the time, and interesting construction make this lovely house really unique. It was made from red tiles and bricks and named Red House. Red House is today open for visitors and it is really interesting to see its interior decoration and painted walls.
In following years, this innovative designer was mainly interested in painting and after that in wallpaper design. His first wallpaper design called The Trellis was designed in 1862. In years to come his company finished numerous projects, for example designing the Green Dining Room, today known as Morris Room at the Victoria and Albert museum in London.
When he became the owner of the entire firm, he changed its name to Morris and Co. Textile dyeing was very interested for him, but he didn't want to use alkaline colors for it. He rather used organic, natural dyes made from different plants. In fact, he really was concerned for environmental issues, and fought against pollution, and this was really unusual for that time.
His imaginative, highly detailed and unique fabrics soon became highly popular and appreciated among rich and influential people of the time. Both woven wool furnishings and his printed textiles found their places in wealthy London homes. One of his especially successful designs was called Peacock and Dragon. This innovative designer had numerous other interests as well, including writing and politics.
The company was also used for creating stained glass. One of these lovely stained windows he made together with Edward Burne-Jones can be seen in Trinity church in Boston, Massachusetts. His company produced very wide variety of artistic items, including beautiful tapestries, furnishing textiles, dyed silk and stained glass.
His first repeating wallpaper pattern was produced in 1864. Using old fashioned wooden block technique and perfectly natural colors, he made his first role of wallpapers. Using indigo for blue color and madder for red, he accomplished really extraordinary effects. Although he was dealing with all sorts of things, his primary interest was in designing and manufacturing woven and printed fabrics.
Imaginative, highly detailed and absolutely unique examples of his work can be seen in different galleries and museums all over the world. He designed extraordinary tapestries, lovely stained windows, embroideries, wall papers, painted silk and many other decorative items. His enormous talent and dedication really made a great difference in design world.
In early years, while he was still in Oxford, he was highly interested in medieval architecture. He met one of his closest friends then, a guy named Edward Burne-Jones. After finishing Oxford, he got job as an apprentice in George Edmund Street's studio. Street was an architect mainly interested in Neo Gothic. Phillip Web was working there at the time, and they became close friends.
Together with Web, he designed his first family home, in a place called Bexleyheath, maybe ten miles from London. Unusual L shape, uncharacteristic for the time, and interesting construction make this lovely house really unique. It was made from red tiles and bricks and named Red House. Red House is today open for visitors and it is really interesting to see its interior decoration and painted walls.
In following years, this innovative designer was mainly interested in painting and after that in wallpaper design. His first wallpaper design called The Trellis was designed in 1862. In years to come his company finished numerous projects, for example designing the Green Dining Room, today known as Morris Room at the Victoria and Albert museum in London.
When he became the owner of the entire firm, he changed its name to Morris and Co. Textile dyeing was very interested for him, but he didn't want to use alkaline colors for it. He rather used organic, natural dyes made from different plants. In fact, he really was concerned for environmental issues, and fought against pollution, and this was really unusual for that time.
His imaginative, highly detailed and unique fabrics soon became highly popular and appreciated among rich and influential people of the time. Both woven wool furnishings and his printed textiles found their places in wealthy London homes. One of his especially successful designs was called Peacock and Dragon. This innovative designer had numerous other interests as well, including writing and politics.
The company was also used for creating stained glass. One of these lovely stained windows he made together with Edward Burne-Jones can be seen in Trinity church in Boston, Massachusetts. His company produced very wide variety of artistic items, including beautiful tapestries, furnishing textiles, dyed silk and stained glass.
His first repeating wallpaper pattern was produced in 1864. Using old fashioned wooden block technique and perfectly natural colors, he made his first role of wallpapers. Using indigo for blue color and madder for red, he accomplished really extraordinary effects. Although he was dealing with all sorts of things, his primary interest was in designing and manufacturing woven and printed fabrics.
Imaginative, highly detailed and absolutely unique examples of his work can be seen in different galleries and museums all over the world. He designed extraordinary tapestries, lovely stained windows, embroideries, wall papers, painted silk and many other decorative items. His enormous talent and dedication really made a great difference in design world.