Portière made from Morris & Co. Oak damask (one of four)

May Morris (English, 1862–1938)

William Morris (English, 1834–1896)

Morris & Co. (English)

1892–93

Object PlaceEngland

Medium/TechniqueSilk damask, embroidered with silk in darning, satin, stem and couching, with silk fringe and cotton lining

Dimensions254 x 99.1 cm (100 x 39 in.) (including fringe)

Credit LineIn memory of J. S. and Sayde Z. Gordon from Myron K. and Natalie G. Stone

Accession number1983.160b

On View

Not on view

ClassificationsTextiles

Collections

Provenance1892, commissioned by Mrs. J. Monro Longyear (nee Mary Hawley Beecher, d. 1931), Marquette, MI [see note 1]; 1933, sold at Longyear's estate auction by Pierce S. Haley Appraiser and Auctioneer, Boston, MA, lot 4 under section "Draperies," to Mr. J. S. Gordon, Brookline, MA [see note 2]; by descent to Myron K. and Natalie G. Stone, New York; gift of the Stones in memory of J. S. and Sadye Z. Gordon (Accession date: March 9, 1983)

NOTES:
[1] In 1903, Mrs. Longyear moved her household in its entirety to Brookline, MA, at which point this embroidery came to MA. See "Early Modern Textiles: From Arts and Crafts to Art Deco," Marianne Carlano and Nicola J. Shilliam, MFA Publications, 1993, pg. 19, for a full description of provenance and a picture of the embroideries hanging in the Longyear home in 1909.

[2] Copy of original auction catalogue and bill of sale in curatorial file.