'Indian'
Wallpaper
Possibly designed by George Gilbert Scott
Printed by Jeffrey & Co. for Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co.
First issued 1868-70
Colour print from woodblocks
Museum no. E.3706-1927
Given by Morris & Co.

Morris was not the sole designer for 'the Firm'. Patterns were contributed by several others, in this instance, probably the architect G.G. Scott (1811-78). He was later one of the founders of Watts & Co., which issued some wallpapers in a similar style. The pattern was said to be derived from an anonymous 18th century wallpaper, but the source for this earlier paper was an Indian chintz.

A number of Morris & Co. wallpapers were inspired by historical textiles and Morris himself studied the textile collections in the V&A. He believed that a good designer must look to the past, and claimed, 'However original a man may be, he cannot afford to disregard the works of art that have been produced in times past when design was flourishing.'