Pattern 136: "Snakeshead", printed textile. William Morris, 1876.
Printed: Wardle (Leek) and possibly Merton Abbey
Image: V&A
1876 was a particularly productive year for Morris, and Snakeshead is an example of that year& #39;s highly symmetrical and highly detailed designs. Other examples include Bluebell and Little Chintz...

https://twitter.com/EveryMorris/status/1123358187132944384">https://twitter.com/EveryMorr... https://twitter.com/EveryMorris/status/1098992054959570944">https://twitter.com/EveryMorr...
As well as the large-scale and even more elaborate African Marigold and Honeysuckle.

https://twitter.com/EveryMorris/status/1151940635542413313">https://twitter.com/EveryMorr... https://twitter.com/EveryMorris/status/1102625250016194562">https://twitter.com/EveryMorr...
Snakeshead stands out, however, because of the density of its patterning and its relatively deep colors.
Its colors are in fact akin to those Morris used extensively at Merton Abbey starting in 1881 - deep blues, greens, reds, and yellows - as can also be seen in this slightly lighter printing.
(V&A)
Yet, unlike some earlier patterns, Snakeshead does not seem to have carried over to production at Merton Abbey during Morris& #39;s lifetime. Most samples are associated with the Wardle works, and it is absent from the Merton Abbey Dye Book.
This other sample from the V&A seems to date to around 1905, based on its labelling, so it may be a later Merton printing.
The pattern& #39;s coloring would seem to lend itself to the indigo discharge technique used at Merton Abbey, but all samples I have seen are surface-printed.
One of Morris& #39;s reasons for splitting with Wardle was his dissatisfaction with the quality of surface-printed blue patterns. At Merton, he was able to pursue indigo discharge for the first time. It& #39;s interesting that Snakeshead was not retained and converted to the process.
The William Morris Gallery holds two small samples of simpler red printings of the sample, but their dates and printing location are unclear.
The William Morris Gallery holds two small samples of simpler red printings of the sample, but their dates and printing location are unclear.
The William Morris Gallery holds two small samples of simpler red printings of the sample, but their dates and printing location are unclear.
The pattern is named for the snakeshead fritillary, a spring wildflower with distinctive checkered petals that grows in wet riverside meadows.
The pattern is named for the snakeshead fritillary, a spring wildflower with distinctive checkered petals that grows in wet riverside meadows.
The pattern is named for the snakeshead fritillary, a spring wildflower with distinctive checkered petals that grows in wet riverside meadows.
Morris loved snakeshead fritillaries and named two patterns for them - the other is the 1885 wallpaper Fritillary. https://twitter.com/EveryMorris/status/1108440252241403906">https://twitter.com/EveryMorr...
My ko-fi: http://ko-fi.com/smleonard 

Object">https://ko-fi.com/smleonard... links:

V&A
Dark
http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O87499/snakeshead-furnishing-fabric-morris-william/
Lighter
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O874... href=" http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O270985/snakeshead-furnishing-fabric-morris-william/
Lighter">https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O270... c. 1905
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O270987/furnishing-fabric/

WMG
Red">https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O270... sample 1
https://www.wmgallery.org.uk/collection/search-the-collection-65/snakeshead-chintz-f443b-1876/
Red">https://www.wmgallery.org.uk/collectio... sample 2
https://www.wmgallery.org.uk/collection/search-the-collection-65/snakeshead-chintz-f443a-1876/">https://www.wmgallery.org.uk/collectio...
Furnishing fabric | | V&A Search the Collections

printed, 1876, British; Morris, W., Morris & Co. "Snakeshead". Museum Number T.643-1919.

http://ko-fi.com/smleonard
You can follow @EveryMorris.
Tip: mention @twtextapp on a Twitter thread with the keyword “unroll” to get a link to it.

Latest Threads Unrolled:
There are a lot of misconceptions about the Turkish diaspora in Germany. Since i just finished writing an essay about this topic I thought it's time to give other people
Read more
Las mejores calculadoras online en 2020A thread http://totumat.com/2020/11/26/las-mejores-calculadoras-online-en-2020/ Cuando se estudian asignaturas que requieren de cálculos complicados, nada mejor que contar con una buena calculadora.
Read more
Mitigating #ClimateChange is as much about taking up new techs as about leaving others behindMost studies focus on #coal's global downfall but another #energy tech decline is loomingRead my new
Read more