Morris & Co. Indigo Rose Gold Forest Hare | Indigo Perlon

Design

Born on 24 March 1834 in Walthamstow, located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest, world-renowned British Heritage Artist William Morris is regarded by many as one of the greatest designers of his time, and one of the most outstanding figures of the Arts and Crafts Movement. Morris’ closeness to nature as a child would later prove vital in cementing his name as the biggest contributor to the revival of traditional British textile arts.

In 1861, he started a decorating business with a group of friends: Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co., would provide beautiful, handcrafted products and furnishings for the home. Morris’ works were inspired by the wonders of nature which he was surrounded by as a child at Epping Forest and later in his life, the nature surrounding his residence at the Kelmscott House; a homage to his previous home in the countryside, Kelmscott Manor. 

Coupled with his desire to provide affordable ‘art for all’ and driven by his boundless enthusiasm, his decorating business had a highly prolific output of elegant natural patterns. Over the next 150 years the company, then simply known as Morris & Co., became the household brand for wallpaper and fabric design.

Forest Hare – Inspired by a tapestry woven with wool and silk at Merton Abbey in 1887. Morris then used animal motifs from earlier tapestries and added a dense cover of trailing acanthus leaves. The Forest Hare in particular, reflected all the detailed nuances, emotions and aestheticism of Morris & Co., thus taking the centre stage in this design.