A design composed entirely of acanthus leaves drawn on a large scale in a continuous scroll repeat showing intricacy of form and line. The design shows a Gothic influence. "Morris & Co." is printed in selvedge. Printed in tans, gold and brown.

See more objects with the tag interior, domestic, home, wallcovering, foliage, scrolls, Gothic, acanthus.

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Object Timeline

1915	Work on this object began.
1935	Work on this object ended.
1941	We acquired this object.
1991	We exhibited this object.
2015	We photographed this object.
2021	You found it!

Sidewall, Acanthus, ca. 1925

This is a Sidewall. It was designed by William Morris. It is dated ca. 1925 and we acquired it in 1941. Its medium is block-printed on paper. It is a part of the Wallcoverings department.

It is credited Gift of Robert W. Friedel.

In center, horizontal rectangular medallion with two figures in grisaille; to right and left, semicircular radiating fluting. To right and left of these, circular pink medallions, each with a figure in grisaille. At either end, a termination in acanthus arabesques. Horizontal rectangle.

Dado (France), 1780–85
block-printed on handmade paper.
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt.
1931-45-58

In early 18th century style, modern bevelled clouded glass in two parts; the upper part shaped to conform to the narrow inner molding which runs within the entire frame. Lower corners bear leaf carvings terminating in volutes and scrolls. Similar elements are reversed at upper corner and are contiued into the cresting by smaller voluted leaf carvings. The gadrooned and leaf carved cavetto-molded cresting is interrupted at its center by a foliated cartouche bearing in relief on its circular cabachon the cipher "10" repeated and reversed.

Mirror (England), late 19th–early 20th century
gessoed, gilt and carved wood, mirroed plate glass.
Gift of Irwin Untermyer.
1950-112-1

Crisscross pattern across entire design sample in turquoise, with two green leaves on light green ground.

Drawing, Textile Design: Diomedes, 1919
brush and gouache on paper.
Museum purchase from Smithsonian Collections Acquisition and Decorative Arts....
1988-62-618

Our curators have highlighted 2 objects that are related to this one.

Art Nouveau design with large-scale tulips and acanthus leaves. Printed in shades of green and yellow against a deep blue background on ungrounded paper.

Sidewall, Tulip, 1893–1895
block-printed paper.
Gift of Dr. Francis J. Geck.
1980-73-32

Design features a crisscross in brown, with two brown leaves on the right, on orange ground. Though the forms on the far right and left sides are cropped, the repetition of the design beyond the borders of the composition is implied.

Drawing, Textile Design: Diomedes, 1919
brush and black, orange gouache on paper.
Museum purchase from Smithsonian Collections Acquisition and Decorative Arts....
1988-62-619

Its dimensions are

H x W (a): 64 x 57.3 cm (25 3/16 x 22 9/16 in.) H x W (b): 69.2 x 57.5 cm (27 1/4 x 22 5/8 in.)

It is inscribed

Printed in right selvedge: Manufacturer's logo and Morris & Co.

Cite this object as

Sidewall, Acanthus, ca. 1925; Designed by William Morris (British, 1834–1896); England; block-printed on paper; H x W (a): 64 x 57.3 cm (25 3/16 x 22 9/16 in.) H x W (b): 69.2 x 57.5 cm (27 1/4 x 22 5/8 in.); Gift of Robert W. Friedel; 1941-74-20-a,b

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition The Cooper-Hewitt Collections: A Design Resource.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2D9yX/
Accession Number 1941-74-20-a,b
Object ID 18564463