'Willow Bough' printed cotton

William Morris designed ‘Willow Bough’ as a wallpaper in 1887. It is a more naturalistic version of ‘Willow’ which was an earlier design from 1874. Following the pattern’s success as a wallpaper, it was adapted for use on fabric from around 1895. This example is printed on one end with the distinctive ‘Morris and Company’ mark that the firm began using after they moved to new retail premises in George Street, London in 1917.

Willow leaves were one of Morris’s favourite motifs. He incorporated them into several wallpaper and textiles designs. May Morris, William’s daughter, describes in her expansive biography of her father, ‘William Morris: Artist, Writer, Socialist’, how: "We were walking one day by our little stream that runs into the Thames, and my father pointed out the detail and variety in the leaf forms, and soon afterwards this paper was done, a keenly-observed rendering of our willows that has embowered many a London living-room."

Other William Morris patterns that include simplified willow leaves are 'Lily' and ‘Powdered’ designed in 1873 and 1874 respectively.