c.1895 William Morris

Wallpaper Catalog

This is a fine reproduction of a c.1895 Morris & Company "Morris Decoration Wall-Papers" Catalog. We have digitized our original catalog at an extremely high resolution, and printed it on the same sort of heavy semi-gloss paper as the original. We were even able to find cover stock in the same color and texture as our more than 100 year old catalog.

This catalog lists all wallpapers available at that time, about fifty in all, with their cost in English pounds. Where applicable, the designer and any special features are also listed for each. Patterns are categorized as machine-printed, ceiling, hand-stippled "Morris Plain" with matching plain carpets and gold and embossed versions of some patterns. Embossed canvas friezes are also shown along with prices and descriptions. In addition, eighteen patterns are pictured and described, with quotes from the then about-to-be-published "The Art of William Morris" by Aymer Vallance.

The Morris & Co. Wall-Papers catalog is a wonderful and rare source of information. On one page, for instance, the firm's managers assure the public that complaints inspired by abrupt color changes in stock designs should now be unecessary, as they have finally convinced Morris to stop arbitrarily changing the colors.

I base my dating of this catalog on the facts of Vallance's having begun work on his book in 1894 and the death of Morris in 1896. Vallance states in his introduction that he had Morris' "express permission", dependent on the acquiescence of the firm's partners, "to reproduce a selection from the firm of Morris & Co.". Hence it is reasonable to assume that the firm's managing partners had access to Vallance's descriptions of the wallpapers while Morris was still living, well before the book was formally published in 1897.

See more catalogs like this in our Decorative Arts Department.

This is a printed book, not a photocopy. Our methods allow us to obtain an unusual image clarity and depth of detail. The pages are bound between heavy clear covers with plastic coil. The spiral coil binding, unlike a comb binding, allows this book to remain unharmed when left open at the desired place.

This fine reproduction is intended as a permanent reference book for both the interested reader and William Morris scholar.