William Morris (1834-1896) was the leading figure of the British Arts and Crafts movement. He was responsible for many innovations in the textile arts of the period, by reviving traditional methods dating back to the Middle Ages and applying them to the demands of his time.
He was attracted to textiles at an early age, as these offered him a great diversity of textures and patterns. He then delved into them fully by studying textiles from a structural viewpoint, analysing closely their method of construction. A great part of his aesthetic was developed by being an extremely keen observer of nature, as well as studying very closely Medieval art. The key to his success has been the ability of combining his technical knowledge with his great flair for patterns and colours.

He began experimenting within the woven media by studying embroideries, as we has particularly enamoured with Medieval embroidered hangings. This lead him to investigate the use of textiles as furnishing items, both as tapestries as well as upholstery. His creations proved to be quite successful, and were sold through his Morris & Company store in London’s Oxford Street.

This in turn inspired him to set up in 1881 a weaving workshop in Merton Abbey, located in the outskirts of London, where he manufactured both printed as well as woven textiles. Here he collaborated with leading figures such as Edward Burne-Jones and John Henry Dearle. The latter was soon elected as his chief designer and, beginning in 1888, he was responsible for developing his celebrated collection of jacquard-woven tapestries.

‘Squirrel’ (originally known as ‘Fox and Grape’, a name derived from Aesop’s fables) was designed by Dearle in 1898, and was woven at Merton Abbey in wool on an hand-loom jacquard. The pattern consists of an all-over repeat of a pair of confronting squirrels flanking a central element composed of an well articulated arrangement of grapes and elaborated leafs connected to each other by means of a set of curvilinear branches. Woven with a sage green background, the present example is in original condition, allowing to fully express the unparalleled creativity which distinguishes the woven creations of Morris and Company. It undoubtedly represents one of the earliest examples of technical innovation applied to a traditional medium.