Morris & Co Embroidery Work catalogue

Details

Date: c.1911
Object Type: archival
Catalogue number: J2165
Publisher: Morris & Co. Decorators Ltd, 449 Oxford Street, London
Credit notes: Gift of Kathleen Wells, 1957

Whilst the Coronation throne, known historically as St Edward’s throne is an ancient wooden chair used by British monarchs for centuries, other thrones are used during the ceremony and often made new for each monarch. The coronation of George V and his wife, Mary as king and queen of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and empress and emperor of India, took place at Westminster Abbey, London, on Thursday 22 June 1911. The king and queen’s enthronation throne (used following the crowning of the King on St. Edwards Chair) and footstall were covered in William Morris’s ‘St. Jamess’ design in a red silk damask and designed by the firm based on the James I throne at Knowle House. Morris & Co. exploited this commission for publicity purposes, issuing this brochure along with images of other royal furniture, such as the thrones used by the king and queen at the Investiture of H.R.H. The Prince of Wales which were designed and made by Morris & Co., as well as thrones made by Morris & Co., for ceremonies at Holyrood Palace, Scotland. Morris & Co. were also commissioned with the embroidered altar hanging used at Westminster Abbey during the oblation ceremony, in which the king and queen make an offering to God. The figures in the hangings were designed by William Lethaby and the pupils of the Royal College of Art.

Details

Date: 1925
Object Type: archival
Catalogue number: H14.14
Owner: Brangwyn, Frank, Sir (1867 - 1956)
Credit notes: Brangwyn gift, 1956

Frank Brangwyn’s Certificate of Honour in appreciation of services rendered to the British Empire Exhibition, 1925. Opened on 23 April 23 1924 by George V, the exhibition ran until 1 November 1924. Due to its popularity, it then ran again from from 9 May to 31 October 1925. Brangwyn contributed illustrations for the catalogue and posters. The exhibition was conceived by the British Empire League and ultimately acted as a form of propaganda to promote a white supremacist racial hierarchy. The exhibition featured ‘Human zoos’, with mocked up villages populated by 273 people on display from Africa, Asia and the Middle East, kept in compounds on the Wembley site for several months of the exhibition.

Details

Date: c. 1912
Dimensions: 27.7 x 22.7
Object Type: archival
Material: paper
Technique: lithograph
Catalogue number: J2169
Credit notes: Presented by Mrs Kathleen Wells, 1957

Details

Date: 29/12/1894
Dimensions: 218 x 182
Object Type: archival
Material: pen on paper
Technique: hand-written
Catalogue number: J362
Author: Morris, William, 1834, 1896
Recipient: Thirkell (née Mackail), Angela, Mrs (1890 - 1961)
Credit notes: Presented by Angela Thirkell, 1950

Letter from William Morris to four year old Angela Mackail (granddaughter of Edward Burne-Jones), thanking her for her Christmas gift of a new pen.

Kelmscott House,

Upper Mall,

Hammersmith

Dec: 29^th 1894

My dear Angela

Thank you very much for sending me the pretty pen; I have already written a good deal with it & shall write more.

When are you coming to see me?

Yours affectionately

William Morris

Details

Date: c. 1912
Dimensions: 28.4 x 22.6
Object Type: archival
Material: paper
Technique: lithograph
Catalogue number: J2146
Credit notes: Presented by Mr Griffiths, 1968

Details

Date: c. 1913
Dimensions: 28.4 x 22.6
Object Type: archival
Material: paper
Technique: lithograph
Catalogue number: J2147
Credit notes: Presented by Mr Griffiths, 1968

This catalogue was published by Morris & Co. to advertise its wallpapers. The reverse has George V’s Royal Warrant, which was awarded to Morris & Co. in 1911 for services to the Coronation. Inside the pages list the wallapapers, designers and price of each paper. The latest design it lists is Brentwood, designed by J.H. Dearle in 1913.

Object Type: archival

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