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Compton

1896
Not on view
When he applied Arts and Crafts principles to wallpaper production, William Morris initiated a revival of the material in England. "Compton" was produced in 1896 for the house of Laurence Hodson, near Wolverhampton. Once believed to be Morris's last design, it is now recognized as the work of John Dearle, who managed Morris & Company's block-printing operations at Merton Abbey and succeeded Morris as director. The pattern is, nevertheless, a definitive example of the company style. Tulips and poppies are woven into a rich, flowing pattern inspired by, but not slavishly adherent to, natural models. The scale of the flowers indicates that the paper was intended for a large, ceremonial room, and the coloring is delicate despite the use of chemical dyes.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Compton
  • Designer: John Henry Dearle (British, London 1859–1932 Purley, Surrey)
  • Designer: Approved by William Morris (British, Walthamstow, London 1834–1896 Hammersmith, London)
  • Manufacturer: Morris & Company
  • Printer: Jeffrey & Co. (London)
  • Date: 1896
  • Medium: Block-printed in distemper colors
  • Dimensions: Sheet: 27 x 21 1/2 in. (68.6 x 54.6 cm)
  • Classification: Wallpaper
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Edward C. Moore Jr. Gift, 1923
  • Object Number: 23.163.4e
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

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Blackthorn, John Henry Dearle British, Block-printed in distemper colors
Blackthorn
Multiple artists/makers
1892
"Rosebud", John Henry Dearle British, Cotton, British, London
"Rosebud"
John Henry Dearle
Morris & Company
designed ca. 1905, printed before 1918
Trent, John Henry Dearle British, Linen, British, Merton Abbey
Trent
John Henry Dearle
Morris & Company
designed 1888
Rose and Lily, John Henry Dearle British, Silk and wool, British, Merton Abbey, Surrey
Rose and Lily
John Henry Dearle
Morris & Company
1893
Greenery, John Henry Dearle British, Wool, silk (11 warps per inch, 4 per cm.), British, Merton Abbey
Greenery
Multiple artists/makers
designed 1892; woven 1915

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