May Morris: Arts & Crafts Designer Hardcover – Illustrated, October 24, 2017

William Morris is well understood as the father of the Arts & Crafts movement, setting its definition with, "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." He had a huge influence on design, from textiles to wallpaper to furniture.Perhaps a little less known is his daughter May Morris, who ran the embroidery department of Morris & Co starting when she was in her 20s; she remained a force until her death in 1938. Her self-reliance would today be branded as early feminism, but in point of fact May was brought up to be independent and creative. She was surrounded by her parents' artistic friends (the book doesn't go into detail about her mother Jane's sort-of-open relationship with Dante Gabriel Rossetti, who cohabited with William and Jane for a while) and an avant garde cultural circle (one surprise: she and George Bernard Shaw were in love, but he backed off because he felt his poverty would keep them from being a good match; they did stay friends). She was, however, political, starting organizations for women in the arts and doing other good works.However, if you're looking for an extensive personal biography, you'll be disappointed. Because this book is first and foremost a print exhibition of May Morris the designer -- and OH MY it is stunning. Chapters are devoted to "a well-crafted life" (biographical overview); sketches and watercolors; wallpapers and embroidery; book cover and designs; dress and costume; jewelry and metalwork. There are about 200 color photographs and other images: everything from pictures of embroidered hangings in situ, close-up details of the stitching, rough patterns of her designs, personal portraits, anything you could ask for. With plenty of detail about each piece.The highlight for me is the section on embroidery, both for her own designs and the execution of her father's and others' designs, along with her work on the production side of the house. If you're an Arts & Crafts fan you may have seen a few of these photos before. For example there is a full-color photo of the Pomona hanging designed by Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris -- I'm surprised I didn't drool on the page. The discussion explains that it was executed by three embroiderers at the Royal School of Needlework, arranged and worked under the direction of May Morris and Miss Barker in 1891; it's 117"x84", silk thread on linen; stitches include long and short stitches, and laid and couched work. And so on. Several of the designs were for embroidery kits, which Morris & Co sold, and thus simpler but no less beautiful. A 26" square Tudor Rose panel would probably be treated as a pillow today; the flowery design (which you might easily assume was William Morris' given its aesthetics) is done in colored silks on linen, worked in darning stitch, stem stitch, and short and long stitch.I learned a lot. The section on book binding caused me to research the history of embroidered book covers (which apparently was a Thing in the late Victorian era). Some of these blew me away, such as a "Love is Enough" book cover with gold and seed pearls incorporated in the design. There's an embroidered cloak with an "Arabic" design that I'd love to wear today. And... well, plenty more.I spent a few weeks poring over this book, a few pages at a time. It's a delight -- and worth every penny. If you care about Arts & Crafts, you want this.

Her famous father may well have eclipsed enduring attention to May Morris’s Arts & Crafts contributions. Fortunately, her artistry and leadership were not inhibited or deterred. Her significant legacy justifies the 5 authors and curators (plus 2 contributors) behind the book May Morris Arts & Craft Designer.The book contains remarkable images and sketches in its 6 chapters. Abundant color photographs display an exquisite color sensibility, fine detail work, and numerous applications of the classic swirling vines and Acanthus leaves. The last chapter –“Jewellery and Metalwork” (Chapter 6) - is comparatively scant, but proves Morris’s creative breadth exceeded her sisters’, who both focused more on embroidery.Each chapter is written by different authors, except in the case of “Wallpapers and Embroidery” (Chapter 3) which is written jointly by Bain, Lister, and Mason. That chapter constitutes nearly 1 full half of the entire book, and rightly so.The book begins with “A Well-Crafted Life” (Chapter 1) by Ian Marsh. It is noteworthy for describing how May Morris elevated embroidery beyond mere women’s work. Needlework forged her design sense, allowing her foray into other applications. It is very telling of her influence that her death – coinciding with the eve of WWII – caused her reputation and contributions to fall out of study and common memory.“Sketches and Watercolours” (Chapter 2) is the most fascinating. We see the evolution of a brilliant and imaginative mind. But ominously, it also foretells of May Morris’s ephemeral prominence; much of these works were scattered or lost. (Ironically, she could be a famous name had she stayed with this medium.) The remaining chapters feature May Morris’s expansive influence: “Book Covers and Designs” (Chapter 4) and “Dress and Costume” (Chapter 5).A great deal of dedicated effort created this book, as evidenced by satisfyingly adequate captions, notes, chronology, and identifying the worldwide locations of May Morris’s public collections. Readers who will delight in the images and text will be thrilled to examine the richly dense “Sources and Further Readings.”

I enjoy reading technique books that add to the rest of the story. I found it refreshing to read that staying with one reliable stitch is prudent to a quality piece over the flash of many variations and the need for future repairs. The pictures were valuable in understanding pattern used during the day.

This book is just perfect.Wonderful quality and good size illustrations, perfect polygraphy and design, a very educative, interesting and inspiring reading.If you're fan of Morris&Co and Arts&Crafts movement you just must have that book.If you're learning art, design, textile and embroidery you must have that book.

I loved the book because It’s a comprehensive review for all the arts that Mary Morris excelled in. The pictures are vivid & reflective of the fine arts produced by May.

well written.

Quality book. Fascinating writing and images about Ms. Morris’s life.

A beautiful highly illustrated review of the underrated daughter of William Morris who carried on his artistic traditions (though not in literature or poetry - though she did write one short play) and added her own vision particularly in art needlework and jewellery. This is the most comprehensive guide to her work yet published and accompanies a major exhibition at the William Morris Gallery. Hard to fault, though it would have been nice to have a chapter by Linda Parry and Jan Marsh gallops through her fascinating life perhaps too quickly - though to be fair this is not meant to be a biography (hopefully to be written one day). Anyway a book long needed that highlights her important work which has been too long neglected.

I thought it would be a nice but slim volume, with some ok illustrations, like so many, but it’s huge, and lavishly illustrated, with high quality photos and excellent printing throughout. I’ve not finished reading yet but so far it’s expertly written both in terms of knowledge of the subject and of the language. I’m quite tired of reading books whose English would be rejected by my junior school teacher so this is a welcome relief on all fronts. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

I was delighted to find this book as I went to the exhibition some while ago and couldn't at that point justify treating myself as it was quite expensive. I'm really pleased to have it now, it is a very comprehensive portrait of May Morris.

Bought this as a present for myself. Lovely book - interesting and informative. Have visited Morris’s Kelmscott but didn’t have much knowledge of his children.

Wonderfully illustrated book about William Morris's daughter - a talented designer in her own right.