WILLIAM MORRIS (1834-1896)
Lot 79

WILLIAM MORRIS (1834-1896)

'Hammersmith' Carpet, circa 1883

Closed14 June 2023

Price Realised

USD 151,200

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WILLIAM MORRIS (1834-1896)
'Hammersmith' Carpet, circa 1883
with original macrame knotted fringe
hand-knotted wool
14 ft. x 11 ft. 1 in. (427 cm. x 338 cm.)

Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, London, 30 November 1993, lot 337.
Acquired by Ann and Gordon Getty from the above.

Specialist note

The present carpet bears a likeness to the 'Holland Park' carpet designed by William Morris in 1883 for the house of Alexander Ionides at 1 Holland Park. The foliate borders are identical and the central design with floral sprays and swirling tendrils is similar, but differs in the flowers used as well as the central motif's shape as a square rather than the 'Holland Park' carpet's circular device. Three versions of this carpet are known, including the version designed for Percy Wynham's Salisbury house known as 'Clouds' in 1885. The 'Holland Park' carpet can be found in the permanent collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (acc. no. 27.139.3).