'Hammersmith' Carpet, circa 1883

Details

WILLIAM MORRIS (1834-1896)
'Hammersmith' Carpet, circa 1883
with original macrame knotted fringe
hand-knotted wool
14 ft. x 11 ft. 1 in. (427 cm. x 338 cm.)

Provenance

Sotheby's, London, 30 November 1993, lot 337
Acquired by Ann and Gordon Getty from the above

Literature

L. Parry, William Morris Textiles, New York, 1983, pp. 74-99 (for a discussion of this design)
E. Wilhide, William Morris: Decor and Design, New York, 1991, p. 90 (for a period photograph of the drawing room at Stanmore Hall with a related example)

Conditions of sale

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Lot Essay

The present carpet bears a likeness to the 'Holland Park' carpet designed by William Morris in 1883 for the house of Alexander Ionides at 1 Holland Park. The foliate borders are identical and the central design with floral sprays and swirling tendrils is similar, but differs in the flowers used as well as the central motif's shape as a square rather than the 'Holland Park' carpet's circular device. Three versions of this carpet are known, including the version designed for Percy Wynham's Salisbury house known as 'Clouds' in 1885. The 'Holland Park' carpet can be found in the permanent collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (acc. no. 27.139.3).

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