William Morris Textiles: Reprint edition, Linda Parry

William Morris Textiles is a richly illustrated homage to the textile legacy of one of Britain’s most influential designers. Originally published in collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum, this reprint edition traces the evolution of Morris’s fabric designs—from early medievalist patterns to the intricate botanical repeats that became hallmarks of the Arts and Crafts movement.

Through archival photographs, design sketches, woven and printed examples, the book reveals how Morris fused craftsmanship with political and artistic ideals, reviving hand production in the face of industrialization. Both a visual treasury and a scholarly reference, it explores the enduring appeal of his textiles—rooted in nature, symmetry, and a belief in beauty as a force for social good.

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About the Author
Linda Parry is a leading authority on 19th-century decorative arts, particularly the work of William Morris and the Arts and Crafts movement. A former curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum, she has curated major exhibitions and authored seminal texts on historic textiles. Her scholarship combines close material analysis with cultural insight, shedding light on the artistry and ideology woven into British design history.

Publication date: 2013
Publisher: V&A Publishing
Pages: 304
ISBN: 9781851777327