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William Morris, Medway Furnishing Textile Fragment. Cotsen Textile Traces Study Collection T-2771. Courtesy of The George Washington University Museum, Washington D.C. Photograph by Bruce M. White.

Medway Furnishing Textile Fragment

Artist William Morris
Year 1885
Creation Place England
Medium Cotton, indigo
Dimensions 20 x 21 in. (50.80 x 53.3 cm)
Collection Cotsen Textile Traces Study Collection, T-2771
Credit Line Courtesy of The George Washington University Museum, Washington, D.C. Photograph by Bruce M. White.

William Morris (1834–1896) was an English textile designer, artist, writer, and poet. Morris was one of the main influences of the British Arts and Crafts Movement, and deeply committed to crafting beautiful, well-made objects for everyday use. His design style featured intricate patterns inspired by nature, emphasizing handcrafted quality. Morris became well known for his indigo discharge technique, which involves removing indigo dye from fabric to create contrasting patterns. This method uses a bleaching agent to strip away the color, producing intricate designs on previously dyed textiles.

William Morris, Medway Furnishing Textile Fragment. Cotsen Textile Traces Study Collection T-2771. Courtesy of The George Washington University Museum, Washington D.C. Photograph by Bruce M. White.