About this pattern
Although it often carries William Morris's name, Golden Lily was drawn by John Henry Dearle in the late 1890s. Dearle started at Morris's Oxford Street showroom in 1878, trained as Morris's tapestry apprentice, was chief designer by 1890, and took over as art director after Morris died in 1896. The V&A observes that his work was frequently credited to Morris. It holds a period specimen of this design (E.2815-1980).
Here the ground is teal, stippled with darker blue, and grass-green scrolling leaves carry powder-blue lilies, red-flecked cream lilies, coral tulips and mustard rosettes. Green and blue sit at nearly equal weight, so the wall seems to shimmer until you walk closer and the lilies step out. That depth suits a snug with low lamps. It gives a home office a calm backdrop for video calls, and in a period sitting room it sits well with old oak.
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