About this artwork
This pattern was first produced in collaboration with dye chemist Thomas Wardle (English, 1831–1909) in 1877, after three months of experimentation. Wardle’s company continued to print selected Morris patterns, and when Thomas died in 1909, his son Bernard maintained this relationship. Unlike woven textiles, the printed textiles are marked with Morris & Co.’s logo on their selvages (outer edges), and the different styles of the typeface offer clues to when a fabric was actually made. The selvages of this example indicate that it was made some time between 1925 and 1940.
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Status
- Currently Off View
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Department
- Textiles
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Artists
- William Morris (Designer) , Morris & Co. (Producer) , Wardle & Co. (Printer)
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Title
- Snakeshead
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Places
- London (Object made in), England (Artist's nationality:), Great Britain (Object made in)
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Dates
- Copyrighted 1876 , Made 1925-1940
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Medium
- Cotton, plain weave; block printed
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Inscriptions
- Selvage: MORRIS & COMPANY Label (detached): MORRIS & COMPANY, ART-WORKERS, LTD., 17, ST. GEORGE STREET, HANOVER SQUARE, LONDON, W.1. Telephone: MAYFAIR 1664/5. / No. 1840 / Name Snakehead / Width 36 inches / Price 7/11 yard / PATTERNS WILL BE CHARGED FOR, IF NOT RETURNED WITHIN ONE MONTH. / 1650
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Dimensions
- 69.9 × 96.5 cm (27 1/2 × 38 in.); Repeat: 32.2 × 21.5 cm (12 3/4 × 8 1/2 in.)
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Credit Line
- Purchased with funds provided by Mrs. Theodore D. Tieken
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Reference Number
- 1972.395
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IIIF Manifest
- https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/39170/manifest.json
Extended information about this artwork
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.
