William Morris Indian Design tea towel

A British artist, poet, novelist, and ardent socialist, William 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 the 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. 

This tea towel is inspired by the iconic "Indian" wallpaper design initially produced in 1868-70 by Morris & Co. Although this wallpaper was produced by the company of William Morris, it was not designed by Morris himself. A letter from Morris's business manager suggests that it was actually the work of the architect George Gilbert Scott (1839-1897). Scott was clearly influenced by the elegance and beauty of Indian aesthetics.

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