Kennett
Design 1883, made 1887
Medium
Silk, satin weave with self-patterning ground wefts
Dimensions
94 × 69.5 cm (37 × 27 3/8 in.); Repeat: 59 × 17 cm (23 1/4 × 6 3/4 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
179719
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The Kennet pattern was originally made in three different techniques: woven silk, printed cotton, and printed velveteen. These two silk panels [1971.682a,b] are all that remains of floor-to-ceiling window curtains from the parlor of Glessner House on Prairie Avenue in Chicago.
About the Artist
William Morris · 1834–1896
William Morris (1834–1896) was a British designer, craftsman, writer, and socialist activist who became the most influential figure in the Arts and Crafts movement and one of the most important designers in British history. Born in Walthamstow, Essex, he studied at Oxford, where he formed a lifelong friendship with Edward Burne-Jones and came under the influence of John Ruskin's writings on art, l...