Tapestry
Acanthus and Vine
Cabbage and Vine
Object number
KM032
Artist/Designer/Maker
William Morris - designer
William Morris - weaver
William Morris - weaver
Production date
1879
Production place
Kelmscott House
Material
wool thread
cotton (textile)
silk thread
cotton (textile)
silk thread
Technique
upright tapestry loom woven
Materials and techniques note
The loom made for Morris was an haute-lisse or upright loom as opposed to a basse-lisse or horizontal loom. The principal characteristic of a high warp, or upright, loom is that the warps are stretched vertically between the upper and lower rollers. The weaver sits on a bench at the reverse of the tapestry and operates the heddles (loops of thread) above his head by hand. The cartoon (finished design) is placed behind him A mirror is placed in front of the tapestry to enable the weaver to see the front of it and, therefore, the work he is doing. He would also be able to see in this mirror a reflection of the cartoon. It should be noted that a large tapestry is woven on the loom at right angles to how it will be hung on a wall. This means that the finished article has the warp threads running horizontally and makes it possible to begin weaving from either side.
Dimensions
height (maximum): 185cm
height (minimum): 176.5cm
width: 237cm
height (minimum): 176.5cm
width: 237cm
Location
Kelmscott Manor - (on display)
Object history note
Morris, W. 1879. Tapestry design for Acanthus and Vine Tapestry. (Watercolour). London: Victoria & Albert Museum, Prints and Drawings Study Room. Accession number E.45-1940.
Morris, W. 1879. Tapestry cartoon for Acanthus and Vine Tapestry. (Pencil and watercolour on paper). London: Victoria & Albert Museum, Store. Accession number E3472-1932.
Diary of work on Cabbage and Vine Tapestry at Kelmscott House, Hammersmith begun May 10 1879. National Art Library: MSL/1939/2637
References
Reference (free text)
Kelvin, Norman, ed., The Collected Letters of William Morris Volume 1 1848-1880 (Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1984)
Reference (free text)
Mackail, J.W., The Life of William Morris, Volume 1 (London: Longmans, Green and Co. 1912)
Reference (free text)
MacCarthy, Fiona, William Morris: A Life for Our Time (London: Faber and Faber Ltd, 1994)
Reference (free text)
Parry, Linda, William Morris Textiles, 2nd edn (London: V & A Publishing, 2013)
Reference (free text)
Thompson, W.G., A History of Tapestry, third edition (East Ardsley, Wakefield: EP Publishing, 1973)
Acanthus and Vine tapestry. Verdure tapestry depicting birds within a background of intertwining grapevines, roses and acanthus leaves. Designed and woven by William Morris between May and September 1879.