The William Morris Society has been fortunate to acquire several new items for its collection in recent months. Firstly, a spectacular Morris & Co woodblock for the Sunflower wallpaper was generously donated in the summer of 2024. Until then, the Society did not have any woodblocks in its collection, making this an incredible donation. In addition, it is particularly appropriate as we have the original watercolour design for Sunflower, as well as several of the wallpaper samples in various colourways, enabling the whole story of the manufacturing process of Sunflower to be conveyed. The autumn of 2024 brought another reuniting of original watercolour design with finished product, when the Society acquired a stunning May Morris embroidery for which we hold he design. This was closely followed by one of William Morris’s reference books from his library at Kelmscott House, enabling a publication to return ‘home’. Lastly, we added the following to our collection; a poignant photograph of Catherine Morris, one of William Morris’s nieces, along with the sale catalogue of her former home at Much Hadham which was adapted by Philip Webb.

This talk will delve into the fascinating history of these wonderful acquisitions, all of which add a significant new dimension to the collection.