Embroidered Border by William Morris
Venus (or Aphrodite) by William Morris
Woman Drinking from a Fountain by William Morris
Woman Gathering Fruit by William Morris
Woman Holding a Small Book by William Morris

Where to See William Morris

9 museums worldwide

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About William Morris

British · 1834–1896 · Arts and Crafts

Designer, poet, and socialist who refused to enter the Great Exhibition at sixteen and spent his life proving factory-made goods were beneath human dignity.

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About the artist

William Morris (1834-1896) is the rare Victorian whose work you can still buy, sleep under, sit on, walk past, read, and hang on the wall. His designs are licensed by Morris & Co. and still printed today, more than 130 years after the originals. His house in Hammersmith is a working museum. His country home in Oxfordshire is a National Trust property. His childhood home in Walthamstow is the world's largest single-artist gallery devoted to his work. His political writing is in print. His Kelmscott Press editions sell at auction for five figures.

This page is for travellers and researchers planning to see his work in person. It lists the museums and houses with documented Morris holdings, ordered by collection size, with addresses and visitor information. Below the museums, you will find frequently-asked questions about specific works and locations.

A short orientation, since Morris worked across more fields than most artists ever attempt:

  • Textiles and wallpaper. The field he is most remembered for. Strawberry Thief (1883), Trellis (1862, his first wallpaper), Willow Bough (1887), Pimpernel, Acanthus, Bird and Pomegranate, Honeysuckle. The original wood blocks for many designs survive at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
  • Stained glass and furniture. Produced through Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. (1861-1875) and then Morris & Co. (1875-1940). The firm's church glass survives in hundreds of British parish churches, often unattributed.
  • Poetry and prose. The Earthly Paradise (1868-1870) was a Victorian bestseller. News from Nowhere (1890) is the utopian socialist novel that influenced generations of British leftists. His translations of Icelandic sagas remain in print.
  • Book design. The Kelmscott Press (1891-1898) printed 53 titles by hand, culminating in the Kelmscott Chaucer of 1896. It set the standards for the British and American private press movements that followed.
  • Architecture and conservation. Founded the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings in 1877. SPAB still operates today and shaped how Britain treats its historic buildings.
  • Socialism. Co-founded the Socialist League in 1884 and edited its journal Commonweal. His political lectures, gathered as Hopes and Fears for Art and Signs of Change, are the clearest statement of late-Victorian arts-and-crafts politics.

Most visitors come to see one of these aspects. This guide will help you find the others.

Lifespan
1834-1896 (62 years)
Place of work
London (Walthamstow childhood, Bloomsbury studies, Bexleyheath Red House, Hammersmith Kelmscott House, Wandle Merton Abbey workshops) and Kelmscott Manor in Oxfordshire
Best-known designs
Strawberry Thief, Trellis, Willow Bough, Pimpernel, Acanthus, Bird and Pomegranate
Best-known books
The Earthly Paradise, News from Nowhere, the Kelmscott Chaucer
Movements
Arts and Crafts (founder), Pre-Raphaelite circle (peer)

Explore by vertical

This artist worked across more than one field. Each link leads to the on-site reference or the matching commercial collection.

Textiles & Wallpaper → Browse 138 Morris designs available as fine-art prints, including Strawberry Thief, Trellis, and Acanthus. Arts & Crafts Movement → The movement Morris founded: ideas, key designers, and the rejection of factory-made goods. Pre-Raphaelite Circle → Morris was the second-wave Pre-Raphaelite who turned the brotherhood's medievalism into a design philosophy. William Morris Page → Full biography, timeline, and notable works.

William Morris's works are held in 9 museums worldwide, including Cleveland Museum of Art, Victoria and Albert Museum, and Tate.

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🇫🇷 France

1 museum

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

5 museums

🇺🇸 United States

3 museums

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can you visit the original Morris & Co workshops?
    Morris & Co. had several locations during its operation, though the original workshops are no longer open to the public. The firm, initially called Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co., was founded in 1861[5]. Its first premises were at 8 Red Lion Square, Bloomsbury, London. This location included an office, a showroom, and workshops for crafting items such as metalwork, carpets, and stained glass. In 1875, the firm was reconstituted as Morris & Company. In 1877, a showroom opened on Oxford Street, London. Production expanded in 1881, when the Merton Abbey works were established. These works were significant for textile production, including high warp production. While the original Red Lion Square workshops are not accessible, other sites associated with the Arts and Crafts[5] movement can be visited. For example, the Art Workers Guild moved to 6 Queen Square, Bloomsbury, London, in 1914. Additionally, the Mortuary Chapel in Compton, Surrey, features decoration designed and executed by Mary Seton Watts and local trainees. These locations offer insight into the broader Arts and Crafts context.
  • Which V&A galleries have William Morris textiles?
    The Victoria and Albert Museum[2] (V&A) in South Kensington, London, holds a collection of textiles designed or manufactured by William Morris. Morris had a close relationship with the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A). In 1867[5], he received the commission to decorate the Green Dining Room. This space became an example of Arts and Crafts[5] ideals; Morris created a unified, functional environment, designing the windows, lights, and wall panelling. Morris's company, Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Company, produced a range of items, including printed and woven textiles. These textiles, along with furniture, wallpaper, stained glass, and other decorative arts, contributed to Morris's unified aesthetic. The V&A's British[5] Galleries display Arts and Crafts work, including items designed by William Morris. The William Morris Gallery, located in Lloyd Park, Walthamstow, London, also features Morris's work. This gallery is in Morris's family home and contains work by Morris, the Century Guild, and other Arts and Crafts designers.
  • Where can I see Strawberry Thief?
    The original 'Strawberry Thief' printed cotton fabric, designed by William Morris in 1883[5], is part of the collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum[2] (V&A) in London. The V&A's address is Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL. You may also find examples of 'Strawberry Thief' at other museums that have collections of Morris & Co. textiles and wallpapers. Morris created 'Strawberry Thief' at his home, Kelmscott Manor[3], in Oxfordshire. Morris leased Kelmscott Manor with Dante Gabriel Rossetti in 1871. Morris was inspired by the willows near the stream at Kelmscott for his 'Willow Bough' wallpaper. The names of his designs, such as 'Evenlode' and 'Windrush', reflect the influence of the Cotswolds. These cottons are named after streams that flow into the Thames. Morris & Co. opened a showroom in Oxford Street, London, in 1877.
  • Are there William Morris works on display in the United States?
    Yes, examples of William Morris's work can be found in several locations in the United States. Morris (1834[5]-1896[5]) was associated with the Pre-Raphaelites, and he began the firm Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. in 1861[5]; it was later known as Morris & Co. from 1875. The company produced stained glass, textiles, carpets, and furniture. Morris also designed wallpaper and was involved in dyeing, weaving, woodcut engraving, printing, and architectural preservation. He lectured on dyeing and other subjects. Morris was a proponent of handicrafts, and he sought to bring art to many areas of life. To see Morris's work, one might visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City (1000 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10028). The Art Institute of Chicago (111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603) also holds examples of decorative arts and textiles. Additionally, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (Avenue of the Arts, 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115) has a collection of British[5] decorative arts that may include pieces by Morris or his firm.
  • What is at Kelmscott Manor?
    Kelmscott Manor[3] is a 17th-century farmhouse near Lechlade, Gloucestershire, that was the country home of William Morris. Morris and Dante Gabriel Rossetti jointly leased it in 1871[5]. Morris called it 'a jewel of a house'. He loved it for its rural setting, the austere beauty of the Cotswold buildings, and its proximity to the River Thames. Morris, his wife Jane, their daughters Jenny and May, and Rossetti used the house as a summer retreat. The house was simply furnished. Morris enjoyed the craftsmanship of the local architecture, the flowers and plants, and fishing. His daughter May recalled that his Willow Bough wallpaper of 1887 was inspired by the willows growing alongside the stream at Kelmscott. Several other designs reflect the inspiration of the Cotswolds: the printed cottons Evenlode and Windrush, named after local streams, and Snakeshead, inspired by the snake's head fritillary growing wild in the fields. You can visit Kelmscott Manor at Kelmscott, near Lechlade, Gloucestershire, GL7 3HJ. In the village, you can also see cottages by Philip Webb and Ernest Gimson. Gimson also designed the Village Hall.
  • What is at Kelmscott House?
    Kelmscott House in Hammersmith, London, was William Morris's home during the later part of his life. In 1890[5], Morris established the Kelmscott Press at Kelmscott House. He designed and cast new fonts of type with the help of Emery Walker. Morris's love for Gothic forms influenced his approach to book design; he studied examples of early printed books to inform his work. Every aspect of the Kelmscott Press publications, from the paper and binding to the ink, received careful consideration, with Morris himself overseeing the manufacturing. The first book from the Kelmscott Press appeared in 1891. All of the ornaments for the Kelmscott Press were designed by William Morris. The Kelmscott Press operated on a co-operative basis. One of the most significant achievements of the Kelmscott Press was the publication of the Chaucer. Morris started this project in the summer of 1894, and it was completed in the spring of 1896[5]. The Chaucer featured eighty-six pictures by Edward Burne-Jones, with wood engravings by W. H. Hooper and a title page designed by Morris.
  • Where is the William Morris Gallery?
    The William Morris Gallery is located in Lloyd Park, Walthamstow, London. The address is E17 4PP. You can contact the gallery by telephone at 020 8496 4390. The website is walthamforest.gov.uk/ williammorris. The gallery was Morris's family home. It now holds work by Morris, the Century Guild, and many other designers associated with the Arts and Crafts[5] movement. Morris (1834[5]-1896[5]) was a poet, painter, designer, typographer, polemicist, manufacturer, and socialist. He married Jane Burden in 1859[5]. He was influenced by John Ruskin and disturbed by the effects of industrialisation on the environment and society. He believed that cheap factory-made goods had a negative effect on both makers and users. He also believed that good design helped to shape a better society. Morris bought an apple orchard and meadow in Upton, now Bexleyheath, in Kent. He commissioned his friend, the architect Philip Webb, to design a house. Morris intended it to be a family home and a place where friends could meet and work. He opposed the dehumanising effects of industrialisation and insisted that designs should be produced with craftsmanship and artisan skills.
  • Where can I see William Morris work in London?
    Several locations in London offer the opportunity to view works by William Morris and those in his circle. The William Morris Gallery, located in Lloyd Park, Walthamstow, London E17 4PP, is Morris's family home and holds a collection of his works, along with pieces by the Century Guild and other Arts and Crafts[5] designers. This gallery provides insight into his life and artistic development. The Victoria and Albert Museum[2], situated in South Kensington, London SW7 2RL, features Arts and Crafts works within its British[5] galleries. The museum's extensive collections served as a source of inspiration for many designers associated with the Arts and Crafts movement. For those interested in seeing the broader context of the Arts and Crafts movement, Westminster Cathedral, in Francis Street, London SW1P 1QW, contains St Andrew's Chapel by Robert Weir Schultz. Additionally, the Geffrye Museum, on Kingsland Road, London E2 8EA, may offer relevant displays; it is worth checking their current exhibitions for related items.

Sources

Where to See guide aggregates verified holdings of William Morris's works across the following collections.

  1. [1] museum Tate Britain Used for: museum holdings.
  2. [2] museum Victoria and Albert Museum Used for: museum holdings.
  3. [3] museum Kelmscott Manor Used for: museum holdings.
  4. [4] wikidata Wikidata: Q182589 Used for: identifiers.
  5. [5] wikipedia Wikipedia: William Morris Used for: biography.
  6. [6] academic Smarthistory.org, William Morris and Philip Webb, Red House Used for: biography.
  7. [7] academic J. M. Bowles, William Morris, Anti-Capitalist Publisher Used for: influences.
  8. [8] academic The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, William Morris | Biography, Designs, & Facts Used for: biography.
  9. [9] book Typesetter01, 3638_W_Kleiner.FM_V2.qxd Used for: stylistic analysis.
  10. [10] book Howard Simon, 500 Years of Illustration Used for: biography, stylistic analysis.
  11. [11] book Jesse Bryant Wilder, Art History For Dummies Used for: biography.
  12. [12] book Hodge, Susie;, Artists at Home Used for: biography, stylistic analysis.
  13. [13] book Siebenbrodt, Michael.,Schöbe, Lutz., Bauhaus Used for: biography.
  14. [14] book Michael Siebenbrodt, Bauhaus Used for: biography.
  15. [15] book Deyan Sudjic, B Is for Bauhaus, Y Is for YouTube Used for: biography.
  16. [16] book Morris, William;Kelvin, Norman, Morris, William;Kelvin, Norman - The Collected Letters of William Morris, Volume III _ 1889-1892 Used for: biography.
  17. [17] book Spinozzi, Paola / Bizzotto, Elisa, The Germ: Origins and Progenies of Pre-Raphaelite Interart Aesthetics Used for: biography.
  18. [18] book Thomas, Zoë, Women Art Workers and the Arts and Crafts Movement Used for: biography.
  19. [19] museum Introducing William Morris - V&A Used for: biography.
  20. [20] museum William Morris - Marigold - The Metropolitan Museum of Art Used for: notable works.

Editorial overseen by Solis Prints. Sources verified 2026-05-30. Click a source for details, or hover over [N] in the page above to preview.

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