In this wallpaper that William Morris designed, the striking effects derive from the use of non local colour to reinvent the distinctively golden flowers in blue. The effect is to cool the gold and to defamiliarise what could have easily been a cliched scene.
1875 (Public Domain – Full size image download)
Presumably, the inclusion of white in the scheme would have brought light to the rooms that the wallpaper would decorate. The wallpaper was also offered in dark red or a light brown hue. Unusually, the design could also be bought as a textile.
The choice of the colours and the elimination of warmth through the golden colours of the flower may indicate that the wallpaper design had a darker meaning for Morris. In Victorian times, according to ‘the language of flowers’, or floriography, the marigold could mean grief, despair and mourning.
The composition takes large single blossoms and places them amongst leafy meanders. There is a ground of smaller flowers. In the typical style of Morris, the crowded composition creates a sense of harmony and creates a larger, unified whole which gives the flowers a ‘society’ and meaning within the company of flowers and the relationships that this creates.
The pattern has been described as creating an illusion of movement, an intentional difference from overly formal or rigid patterns in the work of Morris’s competitors. Looked upon as a wallpaper, the design cleverly incorporates a number of elements to reward frequent viewings of the design. However, it is subtle enough with the crowded composition so that nothing stands out in a glaring way. This is the sophistication of the patterning.
Block-printed in distemper colours
Plant taxonomy
Marigold is a common plant name used in different parts of the English speaking world to refer to two (or more) genera within the Asteraceae (Daisy) family:
Tagetes, encompasses many species whose vibrant flowering plants are native to the Americas and are widely cultivated for their ornamental value, as well as for their various medicinal and culinary uses.
Calendula is a genus of fifteen species of similarly vibrant, daisy-like blooms. Originating primarily from Mediterranean regions, Calendula plants have also been naturalised in various parts of the world including the UK where they are often referred to as Common or Pot Marigold.
Tagetes spp. typically exhibit shorter, compact petals and thinner leaves, while Calendula flowers have longer petals and rounder, wider leaves. Despite both belonging to the daisy family these plants resemble a classic daisy more closely.
So which one, if any, inspired William Morris’s design?
About the artist
William Morris, prolific in the Victorian-era, spanned multiple disciplines including design, literature, and socialism. Best known for his contributions to the Arts and Crafts Movement, advocating for the revival of traditional craftsmanship and the integration of beauty into everyday objects. Morris founded Morris & Co., a renowned design firm, where he created intricate wallpaper, textiles, and furniture characterised by elaborate patterns inspired by nature. Beyond his design work, Morris was a prolific writer, producing poetry, fiction, and essays, often infused with themes of social justice and environmentalism.