This stunning set of six tea towels based on various fabric designs by William Morris and radical quotes from his various essays, combines his two passions in a perfect marriage: art and activism. A British artist, poet, novelist, and ardent socialist, Morris is best known as the 19th century's most celebrated textile designer, responsible for the some of the most recognisable textile patterns from the century. He was a radical in both his art and politics, refusing to follow the consensus. Disillusioned by the Victorian era's focus on dehumanising industrial systems that produced poor-quality, 'unnatural' objects, Morris championed a principle of handmade production, establishing the British Arts and Crafts Movement. Aware of the deep divisions in contemporary society, he declared himself a socialist, and in 1884 he helped set up a new group called the Socialist League, making frequent street-corner speeches and using his fame and artwork to further these objectives.
You can read even more about Morris as a socialist designer in our blog post on Radical Tea Towel's visit to the wonderful William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow.
The collection includes the following designs: Strawberry Thief, Indian, Brer Rabbit, Cherwell, Bird & Anemone and Willow Bough.
Cost when bought separately £84.
Cost when purchased together: £75, ie a £9 discount!
