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Eyebright
1883

designed by William Morris, indigo discharged on cotton, with the addition of yellow flowers with white stamens, green leaves, 3 x 5 in; 12 x 7.5 cm, now mounted in card with watercolour lines and washed yellow ground, 7 x 10 in; 18 x 26 cm

Comments

This design was registered ion 23 November 1883 and printed at Merton Abbey,Surrey. Of the nineteen patterns registered by Morris & Co between May 1882 and September 1885, seventeen were designed to be printed by the indigo discharge method. This design had additional half tones of indigo and weld providing shades of blue, white, green and yellow. Between 1883-5 Morris's designs show two distinctive pattern types not seen before, large-scale meandering branch designs and small net patterns for lining fabnics. This is of course the later. Initally printed on cotton 27 in. wide and were intended to be used as linings for Morris & Co's heavy woollen curtains (two widths of cotton matching the width of most woven wools). Wonderful to have a small piece of Morris & Co fabric. Parry, Linda William Morris Textiles p 49 Delightful design.

Condition

Very good.