This design is for a printed textile, ‘African Marigold’. The design features small marigolds, with larger stylised lilies and curling ribbons of acanthus leaves. You can see that alterations have been made and lines have been rubbed out. Morris drew, revised and finally coloured a pattern on a single sheet of paper, believing that a harmonious piece of work should be done in one attempt. The design is stencilled on reverse with title, Morris & Co. address at Merton Abbey and numbered ‘No.1’.
African Marigold was first printed as chintz by Thomas Wardle of Leek. Two samples are held in WMG: F5 (green on natural ground) and BlF256 (red on natural ground).
