This design was originally thought to have been based on Indian designs for painted/embroidered furnishings, or adapted from an earlier 18th century wallpaper by William Morris. However it is now attributed to George Gilbert Scott Jnr because of a reference in a letter (Victoria and Albert Museum, London: National Art Library) from the Firm’s business manager Warrington Taylor to Philip Webb in 1869, making reference to ‘Scott’s “Indian”‘. In 1874, Scott was one of the founders of Watts & Co. who issued wallpapers in a similar style. The pattern repeat is 63.5 x 50.8 cm.
his version was printed c.1940-1950, using original Morris & Co. blocks by the firm Arthur Sanderson & Sons Ltd., who acquired the blocks from Morris & Co. when they closed in 1940. It is labelled with the original Morris & Co. blue colourway number ‘Indian 14’.
