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A fine William Morris carpet, after a design by William Morris…
Sale Title:
Auction House:
Auction Location:
Melbourne
Date:
24-Nov-2008
Lot No.
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Description:
A fine William Morris carpet, after a design by William Morris and John Dearle English, Circa 1889. Hand knotted wool pile on a cotton warp. The abrashed madder field of interlocking scrolling vines centred by a quatrefoil rosette linking four large palmettes enclosing tulips, framed by a sea green border of meandering tendrils and flowers. 530 x 353 cm. This striking carpet, designed by William Morris and his chief assistant, John Henry Dearle, was one of three new designs for 'Bullers Wood House' in Chislehurst, Kent. The interior decoration of 'Bullers Wood' in 1889 was one of Morris & Co.'s most important commissions and probably the last decorative scheme that Morris supervised himself. The four large palmettes radiating from the central rosette show the clear influence of the 16th and 17th Century Moghul (Indian) and Safavid (Persian) Carpets that Morris collected. These motifs combined with floral devices unmistakably of his own produce a carpet of great beauty, harmony and balance. Testimony to the success of this design was the fact that it was used again for another very important commission, the decoration of Stanmore Hall, Middlesex, between 1890 and 1896. One of the other carpets commissioned for 'Bullers Wood' is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum (exhibit T.31 - 1923) and is regarded as the most accomplished and famous of Morris's carpet designs. Bullers Wood House was purchased by (Sir) John Sanderson in 1879, on his return to England after some successful years in the wool trade Australia. It was a typically mid-Victorian house ideally situated for commuting to London. Sanderson decided to modernise and rebuild it to house his large family. The young architect Ernest Newton was employed for the exterior together with Morris & Co. for the interior. Newton had previously worked for Norman Shaw, a co-designer with Phillip Webb of Morris's 'The Red House' in Bexeley. The carpet remained in the house until 1921, when the house was sold. Some of the house contents were auctioned. This carpet with selected contents were kept by the family and installed in their West Australian residence, Lesmurdie House. It has passed by descent to the present owner. References: Linda Parry, 'William Morris' Phillip Wilson Publishers in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum, London 1996 page 283. Ian Zaczek, 'William Morris', Paragon Books, London 2001, p112 Cloudband Magazine, 'Bullerswood Brought Home - A dream come true', September Issue 2001, p2-4
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Unclassified