Morris Flowerpot Design
Flowerpot Embroidered Panel Designed by William Morris Embroidered by daughter May Morris Collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum
There is some confusion over who designed this cushion. The V&A has an example embroidered by May Morris.
There is some confusion over who designed this cushion. The V&A has an example embroidered by May Morris.
"(May) embroidered both her own designs and those of family and friends. The 'Flowerpot' pattern you see here is probably William Morris's last design for embroidery. His inspiration was two lacis panels acquired by the V&A in 1875." (Lacis is drawn-thread lace.)
http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O88437/flowerpot-embroidered-picture-morris-william/
Curator Linda Parry in her William Morris Textiles describes the cushion cover:
"One of the earliest (late 1870s) the Flowerpot is taken directly from the design of two samples of seventeenth century Italian lacis work...."The successful format of the design, starting as it does from the centre bottom and working up and out in a flurry of stems, leaves and flowers." Yet, she notes, "Flowerpot itself has a stiffness uncharacteristic of his work." (Page 29)
After 1885 May Morris was in charge of Morris & Co.'s embroidery workshops and she and John Henry Dearle designed new patterns after that date. It may be that May designed the Flowerpot.
The panel with its striped, footed vase has inspired several quilters and designers.
Flowering Urn by Rosemary Makhan
Rosemary Makhan featured an appliqued striped vase on the cover of her Floral Abundance book and added a pair of Morris birds.
Rosemary Makhan featured an appliqued striped vase on the cover of her Floral Abundance book and added a pair of Morris birds.
Garden of Life Friendship Knot Quilters Guild, 2011 Florida The pattern is the Flowering Urn Medallion from Floral Abundance
Di Abram has recently won a lot of prizes with her sampler, a combination of Rosemary Makhan's center framed by blocks from Michele Hill's Friends.
Pat Cox Ode to William Morris Center panel
Pat Cox used the striped vase with a pair of birds for the focus in her sampler
Pat Cox used the striped vase with a pair of birds for the focus in her sampler
The Tapestry Shop UK You can buy a hand-embroidered copy as a pillow. Several embroiderers have worked out close interpretations.
Counted embroidery from The Stitchery
Do a web search for the words William Morris Flowerpot or Flower Pot if you are looking for an embroidery pattern or kit.
Do a web search for the words William Morris Flowerpot or Flower Pot if you are looking for an embroidery pattern or kit.
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