William Morris was a designer, artist, poet, writer and Socialist in England in the 1800s. He is considered the father-figure of the Arts and Crafts movement and had a great impact on 20th century design. He was committed to renewal of the arts and wanted to make aesthetically pleasing and beautifully crafted things available to as many people as possible for use in all areas of life. He grew up in a wealthy family and as a child, rode his pony through Epping Forest in a small suit of armor given to him by his father. He spent hours studying plants, birds and nearby churches. Nature is a huge influence on his designs. He was an early forerunner of modern environmentalism. Although this is the only building he ever commissioned, he is credited with over 600 designs. He excelled at designing tapestries, textiles, wallpaper, rugs, stained glass and hand painted tiles and furniture. My final project for the History of Decorative Arts was on William Morris. Morris & Company designs are still available today from Sanderson & Sons and Liberty of London.
front door
upper landing
sitting room
