Design for a tapestry covering a sofa

Details

Date: 1880s/early 1900s
Dimensions: 73.7 x 119.4
Object Type: design
Material: watercolour on paper
Catalogue number: A34
Attributed artist: Morris, William (1834 - 1896)
Attributed artist: Dearle, John Henry (1859 - 1932)
Credit notes: WMG purchase, 1940

John Henry Dearle, Morris & Co’s chief designer, drew this design for a tapestry sofa. The use of the scrolling acanthus leaves relates to other tapestries created by the Firm in the 1880’s, such as ‘The Woodpecker’ and ‘The Forest’ . However, Dearle designed other tapestries for upholstery in the 1900s and this could be one of his designs, following earlier styles.
The original tapestry was purchased by Ann Getty, Los Angeles, USA.