‘Acanthus’ is the only design William Morris personally created for printed velveteen – a heavy, luxurious textured cotton fabric that became fashionable for furnishing in the 1880s. Morris was likely dissatisfied by the overly complicated finishing process of the textile, favouring fabrics that could be produced more simply. Nevertheless, Morris & Co. later went on to produce a range of block-printed velveteen fabrics (see William Morris Gallery F355) including ‘Acanthus’ and five other designs, four of which were designed by John Henry Dearle. The range also included ‘Wey’, designed by Morris in 1882-83, but originally intended for indigo-discharged cotton. The finished ‘Acanthus’ velveteen was produced in red (see William Morris Gallery F354), blue and yellow colourways.
