William Morris was a British artist and textile designer whose designs from the later half of the Victorian period are still incorporated in many homes today. He did most of his work in the city of Bloomsbury, central London. In November 1856, William Morris & his friend Edward Burne-Jones, moved into the first floor of 17 Red Lion Square, Bloomsbury. Morris’s association with this part of Bloomsbury would continue for 25 years, and his commemorative plaque still stands there today. 

Here, in 1861, Morris founded Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co with several others. This was a design and decorative arts company that was highly fashionable and it's designs sought after. This company influenced interior decoration throughout the Victorian period with tapestries, wallpaper, fabrics, furniture, and stained glass windows. In 1875, he bought the entire company, which was then named Morris & Co. The company exists today with modern interpretations and original designs from Morris himself, who is considered the greatest wallpaper and textile designer of the 19th century.

The most interesting thing I discovered in my research was the wallpaper made by this company was controversial due to use of arsenic. Arsenic was everywhere in the Victorian period, from food coloring to baby carriages. The vivid floral patterns, especially bright greens, were made of this toxic chemical. I reflect on learning about William Morris's wallpaper company because it reminded me of the lengths people went in the Victorian Era for an aesthetic. These wallpapers were breathtaking and absolutely beautiful, but they were poisonous. In fashion, women wore corsets, but the excessive use caused muscle atrophy and lower back pain, and even broke ribs. However, Victorian wallpapers are revered to this day for their beauty and are manufactured safely.

Works Cited

V&A · introducing William Morris. Victoria and Albert Museum. (n.d.). Retrieved October 19, 2021, from https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/introducing-william-morris.

William Morris - A history: William Morris wallpaper. William Morris Wallpaper William Morris A History Comments. (n.d.). Retrieved October 19, 2021, from https://william-morris.com/history/. 

William Morris. The William Morris Society. (n.d.). Retrieved October 19, 2021, from https://williammorrissociety.org/about-william-morris/.