Last week, a group of us had an excellent introduction to the William Morris Gallery in north London by one of its curators, and otherwise had the house to ourselves for the visit.
Morris' Evenlode Chintz (1883)
William Morris was amazingly prolific and accomplished as a designer of wallpaper and textiles (for Sanderson), embroidered and woven wallhangings and carpets, furniture, lovely ceramic tiles and bowls and vessels of varying shapes, not to speak of his beautiful illustrations, calligraphy and type-settings for books and other printed materials. And, of course, he was also an author and poet ... and the first to translate the Icelandic Sagas. At one point in his life, he was quite involved in politics - with the Socialist movement.
The collection is very suitably placed in Water House in Walthamstow, the Morris' family home from 1848 to 1856. It offers a number of examples of all the many areas of his interests throughout his life, and items later produced by William Morris' firm.
The top floor of Water House displays some beautiful examples of similar items by one of his friends, and one room on the main floor is currently set aside for an exhibit called 'Quiet Hands'. This is of commissioned furniture made by present day furniture designer Nicholas Hobbs. He, as so many who came after William Morris, is inspired by the simple and clean lines of the Arts and Crafts movement that William Morris inspired and was so much part of.
All in all, the trip to Water House at Walthamstow was indeed well worth it!
Submitted by Unni Claridge
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