William Morris's Furniture

This is where William Morris designed his first furniture.

Location: 17 Red Lion Square, Bloomsbury, London

Description: Legendary designer William Morris (1834-1896) lived here for 5 years after artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti recommended the rooms here. His friend Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898) also moved in around the same time on the same advice.

It was here that Morris first tried his hand at furniture and textile design, producing the first of the medieval-style furnishings which gave rise to the Arts and Crafts movement. Burne-Jones too began to paint the quasi-medieval subjects for which he later became famous.

In 1861 Morris, Burne-Jones and Rossetti set up a design business together at number eight Red Lion Square, to produce high-quality furniture and fittings using traditional craft methods. Their housekeeper, known as 'Red Lion Mary', did much of the sewing and tapestry, and also contributed to some of Morris's designs.

Tours: Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood

Themes: Art Art Theme