William Morris Gallery
Encyclopedia
The William Morris Gallery, opened by Prime Minister
Clement Attlee
in 1950, is the only public museum devoted to English
Arts and Crafts
, designer William Morris
. The Gallery is located at Walthamstow
in Morris's family home from 1848 to 1856, the former Water House, a substantial Grade II* listed Georgian dwelling of about 1750 which is set in its own extensive grounds (now Lloyd Park). The Gallery is currently undergoing major redevelopment and will reopen in July 2012.
The Gallery's collections illustrate Morris' life, work and influence. They include printed, woven and embroidered fabrics, rugs, carpets, wallpapers, furniture, stained glass and painted tiles designed by Morris himself and by Edward Burne-Jones
, Philip Webb
, Dante Gabriel Rossetti
, Ford Madox Brown
, and others who together founded the firm of Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Company in 1861.
Outstanding exhibits include: Morris' medieval-style helmet and sword, made as 'props' for the Pre-Raphaelite murals at the Oxford Union
; the original design for Trellis (the earliest of Morris' many wallpapers); the Woodpecker tapestry woven at Morris' Merton Abbey
workshops; the Beauty and the Beast and Labours of the Months tile panels; and The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer
printed at Morris' Kelmscott Press. Other exhibits — such as the satchel in which Morris carried out his Socialist pamphlets, or the coffee cup he used on his weekly visits to the Burne-Joneses — provide a more personal glimpse of his busy life.
The Gallery also holds a substantial collection of furniture, textiles, ceramics and glass by Morris' followers in the Arts and Crafts Movement, which flourished from the 1880s to the 1920s. Among those represented are Arthur Heygate Mackmurdo and the Century Guild, William De Morgan
, May Morris
, Ernest Gimson
, Sidney Barnsley, George Jack
, C. F. A. Voysey, Harry Powell, Selwyn Image
, Henry Holiday
, and Christopher Whall
.
The collections of applied art are complemented by the Brangwyn Gift of paintings, drawings and prints by the Pre-Raphaelites and other Victorian and later artists, as well as works by Sir Frank Brangwyn
himself.
.
The William Morris Gallery drew up plans for the major William Morris Gallery Development Project to extend and refurbish the Gallery. In Autumn 2010, this proposal was successful in securing round two funding of £1.523 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund, which was matched with £1.5 million from the London Borough of Waltham Forest. Further funding has been secured from charitable trusts and foundations and through an ongoing public fundraising campaign.
The Gallery is temporarily closed to the public for redevelopment. When it reopens in July 2012, far more works of art will be on display. The displays will have been completely renovated and all of Gallery's facilities will have been significantly improved and made fully accessible. There will, in particular, be a dedicated space for school groups, a new study area and an excellent shop and tearoom. The Gallery will also be developing a programme of activities and events to make their heritage more engaging to a wider and more diverse audience.
, one of Morris' students, that works should be on view for a minimum amount of time weekly. Campaigners against the cuts include former Culture Secretary Chris Smith
.
A special campaign web site has been set up to oppose the cuts.
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
Clement Attlee
Clement Attlee
Clement Richard Attlee, 1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, PC, FRS was a British Labour politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1951, and as the Leader of the Labour Party from 1935 to 1955...
in 1950, is the only public museum devoted to English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Arts and Crafts
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
, designer William Morris
William Morris
William Morris 24 March 18343 October 1896 was an English textile designer, artist, writer, and socialist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement...
. The Gallery is located at Walthamstow
Walthamstow
Walthamstow is a district of northeast London, England, located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It is situated north-east of Charing Cross...
in Morris's family home from 1848 to 1856, the former Water House, a substantial Grade II* listed Georgian dwelling of about 1750 which is set in its own extensive grounds (now Lloyd Park). The Gallery is currently undergoing major redevelopment and will reopen in July 2012.
About
Edward Burne-Jones
Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, 1st Baronet was a British artist and designer closely associated with the later phase of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, who worked closely with William Morris on a wide range of decorative arts as a founding partner in Morris, Marshall, Faulkner, and Company...
, Philip Webb
Philip Webb
Another Philip Webb — Philip Edward Webb was the architect son of leading architect Sir Aston Webb. Along with his brother, Maurice, he assisted his father towards the end of his career....
, Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Dante Gabriel Rossetti was an English poet, illustrator, painter and translator. He founded the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in 1848 with William Holman Hunt and John Everett Millais, and was later to be the main inspiration for a second generation of artists and writers influenced by the movement,...
, Ford Madox Brown
Ford Madox Brown
Ford Madox Brown was an English painter of moral and historical subjects, notable for his distinctively graphic and often Hogarthian version of the Pre-Raphaelite style. Arguably, his most notable painting was Work...
, and others who together founded the firm of Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Company in 1861.
Outstanding exhibits include: Morris' medieval-style helmet and sword, made as 'props' for the Pre-Raphaelite murals at the Oxford Union
Oxford Union
The Oxford Union Society, commonly referred to simply as the Oxford Union, is a debating society in the city of Oxford, Britain, whose membership is drawn primarily but not exclusively from the University of Oxford...
; the original design for Trellis (the earliest of Morris' many wallpapers); the Woodpecker tapestry woven at Morris' Merton Abbey
Merton Abbey Mills
Merton Abbey Mills is a former textile factory in the parish of Merton in London, England near the site of the medieval Merton Priory, now the home of a variety of businesses, mostly retailers....
workshops; the Beauty and the Beast and Labours of the Months tile panels; and The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer , known as the Father of English literature, is widely considered the greatest English poet of the Middle Ages and was the first poet to have been buried in Poet's Corner of Westminster Abbey...
printed at Morris' Kelmscott Press. Other exhibits — such as the satchel in which Morris carried out his Socialist pamphlets, or the coffee cup he used on his weekly visits to the Burne-Joneses — provide a more personal glimpse of his busy life.
The Gallery also holds a substantial collection of furniture, textiles, ceramics and glass by Morris' followers in the Arts and Crafts Movement, which flourished from the 1880s to the 1920s. Among those represented are Arthur Heygate Mackmurdo and the Century Guild, William De Morgan
William De Morgan
William Frend De Morgan was an English potter and tile designer. A lifelong friend of William Morris, he designed tiles, stained glass and furniture for Morris & Co. from 1863 to 1872. His tiles are often based on medieval designs or Persian patterns, and he experimented with innovative glazes and...
, May Morris
May Morris
Mary "May" Morris was an English artisan, embroidery designer, socialist, and editor. She was the younger daughter of the Pre-Raphaelite artist and designer William Morris and his wife and artists' model Jane Morris....
, Ernest Gimson
Ernest Gimson
Ernest William Gimson was an English furniture designer and architect. Gimson was described by the art critic Nikolaus Pevsner as "the greatest of the English architect-designers"...
, Sidney Barnsley, George Jack
George Jack
George Washington Henry Jack was a British Arts and Crafts designer and architect. Born in America, he grew up and trained in Scotland, before moving south to join the office of Philip Webb. A contemporary of William Morris, Jack designed furniture for Morris & Co., and was a member of the Art...
, C. F. A. Voysey, Harry Powell, Selwyn Image
Selwyn Image
Selwyn Image was a British clergyman, designer, including of stained glass windows and poet....
, Henry Holiday
Henry Holiday
Henry Holiday was an English historical genre and landscape painter, stained glass designer, illustrator and sculptor. He is considered to be a member of the Pre-Raphaelite school of art.-Early years and training:...
, and Christopher Whall
Christopher Whall
Christopher Whitworth Whall was an English stained glass artist who worked from 1897 into the 20th century.He was an important member of the Arts and Crafts Movement, who became a leading designer of stained glass. His most important work is the glass for the Lady Chapel in Gloucester Cathedral...
.
The collections of applied art are complemented by the Brangwyn Gift of paintings, drawings and prints by the Pre-Raphaelites and other Victorian and later artists, as well as works by Sir Frank Brangwyn
Frank Brangwyn
Sir Frank William Brangwyn RA RWS RBA was an Anglo-Welsh artist, painter, water colourist, virtuoso engraver and illustrator, and progressive designer.- Biography :...
himself.
William Morris Gallery Development Project
In March 2009 the William Morris Gallery was awarded round one funding of £80 000 from the Heritage Lottery FundHeritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund is a fund established in the United Kingdom under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The Fund opened for applications in 1994. It uses money raised through the National Lottery to transform and sustain the UK’s heritage...
.
The William Morris Gallery drew up plans for the major William Morris Gallery Development Project to extend and refurbish the Gallery. In Autumn 2010, this proposal was successful in securing round two funding of £1.523 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund, which was matched with £1.5 million from the London Borough of Waltham Forest. Further funding has been secured from charitable trusts and foundations and through an ongoing public fundraising campaign.
The Gallery is temporarily closed to the public for redevelopment. When it reopens in July 2012, far more works of art will be on display. The displays will have been completely renovated and all of Gallery's facilities will have been significantly improved and made fully accessible. There will, in particular, be a dedicated space for school groups, a new study area and an excellent shop and tearoom. The Gallery will also be developing a programme of activities and events to make their heritage more engaging to a wider and more diverse audience.
Closure threat
In 2007, the museum faced a closure threat after its opening hours were cut back as a cost-cutting exercise, breaking a stipulation of gifts by Sir Frank BrangwynFrank Brangwyn
Sir Frank William Brangwyn RA RWS RBA was an Anglo-Welsh artist, painter, water colourist, virtuoso engraver and illustrator, and progressive designer.- Biography :...
, one of Morris' students, that works should be on view for a minimum amount of time weekly. Campaigners against the cuts include former Culture Secretary Chris Smith
Chris Smith, Baron Smith of Finsbury
Christopher "Chris" Robert Smith, Baron Smith of Finsbury PC is a British Labour Party politician, and a former Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister...
.
A special campaign web site has been set up to oppose the cuts.