Three pairs of 'Elmcote' curtains, early 20th century

John Henry Dearle (1859-1932) was a proficient designer of textiles, tapestries and stained glass. Dearle joined Morris & Co. in 1878, producing designs both in the manner of Morris, as well as his own style, inspired by Eastern aesthetics and historical textiles. As time progressed, Dearle's work became characterized by simplified two-dimensional interpretations of nature (Linda Parry, William Morris Textiles, 1994, pp. 70-71). Dearle took over as principal designer at Morris & Co. upon Morris's death in 1896. The original watercolor and pencil design on paper for 'Elmcote' is held in the collection of the Huntington Library (object no. 2000.5.63), and a panel nearly identical to the present lot is held in the Art Institute of Chicago (ref. no. 2018.817). For more information, see L. Parry, William Morris Textiles, New York, 1994, p. 164, pl. 95.