Published by Morris & Co. in 1911 to celebrate their 50th anniversary, this book provides a history of the company and a summary of their different products. It also contains photographs of the company’s factory at Merton Abbey and an image of their showroom at 449 Oxford Street. The illustration of ‘Washing Chints in the Wandle’ (p.43) was also published in Lewis F Day’s ‘William Morris and his Art’ (Art Journal, 1899), indicating that some, or all of this series of photographs of Merton Abbey are earlier than 1911.
The illustrations include:
‘The Indigo Vat’
‘Hand Weaving Looms at Merton Abbey’
‘Printing Morris Chintzes’
‘Washing Chintz in the Wandle’
‘Arras Tapestry Looms’
‘Stained Glass Painters at Work’ – George Campfield is the figure seated with his feet on a stool. He left Morris & Co. at the end of 1898 or in 1899 so this would date the photo to the late 1890s, when he was about 70 years old.
William Morris Gallery, London Borough of Waltham Forest | ©
William Morris Gallery, London Borough of Waltham Forest | ©
William Morris Gallery, London Borough of Waltham Forest | ©
William Morris Gallery, London Borough of Walthamforest | ©
© William Morris Gallery, London Borough of Waltham Forest
© William Morris Gallery, London Borough of Waltham Forest