May Morris Arts & crafts designer

The catalogue for an exhibition of the same name at London's William Morris Gallery, this volume explores the life and work of William and Jane Morris's youngest daughter, Mary (May) Morris, considered one of the first art embroiderers. The book begins with a chapter on May Morris's life, followed by chapters on her art and designs: sketches and watercolors, wallpapers and embroidery, book covers and designs, dress and costume, and jewelry and metalwork. Combined, these provide a broad picture of Morris's career, intellectual concerns, and personal accomplishments. Morris's embroidery is showcased at the heart of the book. Paper designs and drawings are included, and exceptional images of finished pieces show both full works and intimate details where stitches can be studied. Each image is accompanied by detailed object and provenance information, which creates context. At the back of the book are notes, a list of sources and further reading, and a chronology providing additional research avenues. The book is a must for any study of embroidery and adds depth to the scholarship on the Arts and Crafts movement and the Morris company's legacy. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals; general readers. --Lisa L. Kriner, Berea College

In this accompaniment to an exhibition at the William Morris Gallery, contributors from the William Morris Gallery, the Victoria & Albert Museum, and more seek to bring a relatively unknown figure of the arts and crafts movement to light: May Morris, daughter of William, and a designer and craftswoman in her own right. This volume explores her work in chapters on "Sketches and Watercolors," "Wallpapers and Embroidery," "Book Covers and Designs," "Dress and Costume," and "Jewelry and Metalwork." Each chapter features color photographs and details, beautifully reproduced for closer inspection. However, overall this work reads more as a biography, making it clear that the story of Morris's works is the story of her life. The volume even includes a chronology of her life in the addenda, alongside notes, an index, and a list of public collections. VERDICT An excellent resource for students of art history, particularly in the area of the arts and crafts movement, this book is most suitable for academic and art libraries. Though well written, it may be too specific for public libraries.-Jennifer Naimzadeh, Richland Lib., -Columbia, SC © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.