William Morris designed this wallpaper of scrolling acanthus leaves in 1874 and registered the design for Morris & Co. on 22 July 1875. The size of the repeat is 66cm x 53.3cm and required 30 woodblocks to complete one repeat, making it one of the firm’s more expensive wallpapers, retailing for 16s a roll. The original design is in Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (1941P413) and the working drawing in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (CIRC.297-1955). This example was printed by Jeffrey & Co. for Morris & Co. and has the turquoise colourway ‘Acanthus 420’ written in blue crayon on the reverse. The right edge is stamped twice with the Morris & Co. registration mark and symbol.
