William Morris (1834 to 1896) was a famous 19th-century wallpaper and textile designer, social activist, writer and poet. As a conspicuous figure in the Arts & Crafts movement, he successfully opposed the industrial-driven mainstream by supporting handmade production, a persuasion characteristic of his legacy.
William Morris
Beyond textiles and wallpapers, his remarkable designs include carpets, tapestries, embroideries, tiles, and book covers. William’s substantial inheritance from a wealthy family enabled him the freedom to explore and create, nurturing his natural talent and passion for design.
Peacock and Bird Carpet, 1881
A Passion for Nature, Romance, and Integrity
Morris loved nature, churches, and Walter Scott—a Scottish poet, historian, and novelist—who inspired his enthusiasm for historical romance, churches, and the landscape. He later met Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Edward Burne-Jones—among the time’s most distinguished Pre-Raphaelite painters.
The friends were activists, critical thinkers, and medievalists who loved tales of chivalry and self-sacrifice. This “Brotherhood” influenced Morris to produce beautiful objects individually and naturally, in opposition to the “unnatural” and dehumanizing mass production of the industrial system.
Daisy, 1864
After decorating his own home in the style of a historic manor house, William and his friends started an interiors company in 1861—Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co, later Morris & Co. The enterprise focused on hand-crafted design and décor, producing unique pieces using hand-printed and cut woodblocks, organic dyes, traditional loom weaving and hand embroidery.
Jasmine (1872)
The firm influenced interior decoration and design during and after the Victorian period, including the Art Nouveau movement. No other artist had such an intense impact on British design. William’s work prompts artists to avoid waste and view luxury with a critical eye, encourages the union of nature and art, and the creation of beauty for its own sake.
Cotton textile with Art Nouveau pattern, 1900-1920
History and Inspiration Behind Our William Morris Tablecloth Designs
Morris designs echoed a new and radical British, naturalistic production and pattern, relying on his exhaustive observation of nature.
Marigold, 1875
Simultaneously, Morris rejected an imitation of nature. Instead, he strived to embrace “beauty, imagination and order.” The artist was inspired by architecture and nature, celebrating simple gardens, fields, hedgerow plants, animals, insects, and shapes.
Trellis, 1864
Morris company patterns were never literal. Instead, they were stylized representations expressed in a formalized way, such as in “Sunflower” or, more naturalistically, as in “Acanthus.” The result was easily recognizable, balanced, and, at the time, distinctively unique designs.
Sunflower
Acanthus
Victorian-era artistry represented birds, flowers, fruit, and foliage; the style pretty and ornate, exuberant, and somewhat artificial. In contrast, William Morris favored honest, uncomplicated design reflecting craftmanship integrity.
Victorian wallpaper
Fruit, 1865-66
Additionally, some of Morris’s later pieces, such as “St James’s,” were large-scale designs. William’s belief that these grander patterns worked well in small spaces went against conventional Victorian tastes, where patterns were expected to be unobtrusive—just a background.
St James’s
Morris designs are treasured for their beauty and intricacy. His gloriously repeated patterns popularize the utility and craftsmanship of the Arts & Crafts Movement. This esthetic is widely displayed, with a good example being his iconic “Golden Lily” design.
Golden Lily, 1899
While a William Morris print may not have appealed to staunch Victorians, the continued love of his designs and their lasting popularity speak for themselves.
Why Choose a William Morris Tablecloth?
Less revolutionary yet still desirable after more than a century, William’s designs offer a classic appeal and timeless elegance. Their quality, intricacy and detail provide an appealing blend of traditional and contemporary styles.
Morris designed his textiles to bring nature, interest, and warmth into the home using comfortingly familiar plant and animal shapes, rich colors, and bold patterns. Many of his elaborate scrolling and gentle floral motifs are still in print and continue to decorate historic buildings, museums, and household items and gifts.
So when decorating your home, no matter your style and theme, you can’t go wrong with William Morris-designed or inspired tablecloths and other soft furnishings. Thanks to the designer’s prolific productivity, there are numerous patterns to choose from.
Popular William Morris Tablecloth Patterns
Any Morris textile design is appealing. At the same time, several favorites are perfect for modern-day kitchen, dining room, and outdoor tablecloths. These include the delightfully named Strawberry Thief, Willow Bough, and Pimpernel.
Strawberry Thief
Inspired by cheeky thrushes nabbing fruit from Morris’s kitchen garden, “Strawberry Thief” is a captivating repeated motif initially intended for wall drapes, curtains, and furniture covers. He applied discharge printing for the piece. This technique employs stripping dye from textiles to reveal a pattern. The process required several days to complete, making the textile among the artist’s most expensive. Despite the price of the design, “Strawberry Thief” was, and continues to be, a commercial success.
Willow Bough
The relatively minimalistic “Willow Bough” (1887) with interlaced willow leaves—a simple green and brown on cream—has proved to have enduring appeal. The design is block printed using distemper colors. Densely naturalistic yet less busy in hue than other pieces, this design is ideal as part of a soothing, neutral, yet decorative scheme.
Pimpernel
Pimpernel
“Pimpernel” was designed in 1876, during one of William’s most prolific design periods. It features large tulips with curling leaves intertwined with blue pimpernel flowers. The relative aesthetic formality of the pattern marks a departure from his previous, more spontaneous, Arts & Crafts era. According to William, the design is adapted to rooms of “dignified proportion.”
Where to Buy William Morris-Inspired Tablecloths
At Nabis, we create our tablecloth fabrics with love, inspired by the inimitable designs of William Morris. We produce these romantic, nostalgic, yet elegantly modern patterns in various material options for everyday and special occasions. Our high-quality natural cotton and linen and advanced fibers ensure beauty, durability, functionality, and easy maintenance. You can also choose conveniently waterproof and stain-resistant WaterTide® pieces.
Our expansive collation of nature-inspired Morris tablecloths brings floral sophistication and artistic charm to your dining area. The collection includes our delicately fall-hued Solstice print, which pairs pleasingly with woods, rattan, and leather.
Solstice
The intricacy of the bold birds and foliage in our Nightingale tablecloth brings a rich hue and luxurious functionality to any dining table.
Nightingale
Our Lucia Blue Forest Rabbit patterned cloth leans the other way. Exquisitely detailed yet neutral, it will enhance any cottage and rustic themes and furnishings.
Lucia Blue Forest Rabbit
Please browse our extensive range for more of our William Morris-inspired tablecloths.
Nabis Fabrics for Cherished Designs, Unique Quality, and Service Excellence
Nabis Fabrics stocks classically stylish tablecloths that are robust and versatile. Use yours for casual and formal dining, indoors and out. Lovely yet long-lasting, whimsical yet washable—you can treasure one of our William Morris designs for years. Contact us today.