May Morris (1862-1938), the younger daughter of William Morris, is recognized today as a pioneer of the Arts and Crafts movement, a leading exponent of decorative needlework, and a campaigner for women artists. Despite being one of the foremost practitioners of her generation, it was design that May described as the very soul and essence of beautiful embroidery.
One of the largest collections of May’s designs, from roughly sketched ideas to finished patterns, is held by the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England. This presentation, based on Lynn Hulse’s book of the same name released in late 2025, showcases a selection of 25 of these designs, which are published for the first time, positioning May’s output within the artistic developments of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Two of May’s designs were selected by Frances Glessner in 1887 for the furnishing of her Prairie Avenue home - her “Arcadia” wallpaper design (seen in the parlor guestroom), and her “Lotus” embroidery design for silk portieres in the parlor (now in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago).
The presentation will be given by Lynn Hulse, a textile scholar and practitioner specializing in embroidered furnishings of the Aesthetic and Arts and Crafts movements. She is the author of several publications on decorative needlework and editor of May Morris: Art & Life (2017). Formerly archivist at the Royal School of Needlework, Lynn now runs Ornamental Embroidery which delivers workshops, lectures, and first-hand study sessions of objects in public and private collections, including the Ashmolean Museum.
This program will be recorded and a link will be sent to all registrants. The link will remain live for seven days following the program.
$16 per person / $13 for members
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