A square cushion cover with embroidered design. Over a blue central medallion, five pale pink five-petal roses on a shared pink stem, with twining yellow-green leaves. The roses are surrounded by a wreath of pale green oak leaves outlined in pink on a green diamond-patterned background. The colors of the embroidery are repeated in the wavy fringe.

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See more objects with the tag flowers, embroidery, Arts and Crafts, growth, soft.

Object Timeline

1944	We acquired this object.
2007	We photographed this object.
2015	We photographed this object.
2019	We photographed this object. We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

Cushion Cover, Rose Wreath

This is a Cushion cover. It was designed by William Morris and embroidered by Annie-May Hegeman. It is dated late 19th century and we acquired it in 1944. Its medium is cotton, mercerized cotton and its technique is plain weave embroidered with running (darning), stem, couching stitches, laid work over surface satin. It is a part of the Textiles department.

Advances in transportation, botany, and technology allowed florists of the late 19th century to create elaborate new hybrid and hothouse cultivars. The single row of petals on Morris’s wild roses stands in contrast to these showy blooms and reflects his interest in valorizing indigenous plants. Morris drew connections between what he dismissively called “florists’ flowers” and what he perceived as a cultural shift toward increased homogeneity, artifice, and industrialization in society at large.

This object was donated by Annie-May Hegeman. It is credited Gift of Annie May Hegeman.

Clear glass vase-shaped carafe with long flared neck widening into round belly, then narrowing into flared foot. The carafe is painted with plants and flowers. At the foot, an X pattern of red-brown stems leads up into green-gold blades of foliage on the belly. At the base of the neck, a collar of white and gold five-petal flowers, with round green leaves. At the rim, a scalloped and dotted gold design.

Wellspring Carafe
glass, vitreous enamel, gold.
Museum purchase from Decorative Arts Association Acquisitions Fund in memory....
1993-78-1

Sidewall, Trellis
block-printed paper.
Gift of Robert W. Friedel.
1941-74-19-a,b

A drawing design for a tile in graphite, brush and tempera. It is drawn on oiled translucent paper. The drawing has a thick yellow border. The top-left of the border is stamped with the text “17 George Street Morris Hanover Square London” The bottom-part of the border has the following handwritten text “5” x 5” - 3/3 Each” and the text “Also made 6” x 6” 4/3 each” below it. The main illustration is saturated with flowers and leaves. Two small flowers with details in the middle drawn in white. Both flowers are connected to leaves and stems which swirls and waves in a cohesive manner in relation to the overall tile design. On the right is a large flower but only 2/3 of its left side is illustrated before being cut off by the border.

Drawing, Design for a Tile, 1917–40
graphite, brush and tempera on oiled translucent paper.
Gift of Robert W. Friedel.
1941-74-11

Our curators have highlighted 3 objects that are related to this one.

Cushion Cover (England)
silk on linen.
Gift of Mrs. Curtice Hitchcock.
1975-19-1

Frieze, Stamford
block-printed and stenciled paper.
Gift of Roger Warner.
1955-144-5

Drawing, Design for a Tile
graphite on oiled translucent paper.
Gift of Robert W. Friedel.
1941-74-15

Its dimensions are

H x W: 55 x 55 cm (21 5/8 x 21 5/8 in.)

Cite this object as

Cushion Cover, Rose Wreath; Designed by William Morris (British, 1834–1896); Embroidered by Annie-May Hegeman; England; cotton, mercerized cotton; H x W: 55 x 55 cm (21 5/8 x 21 5/8 in.); Gift of Annie May Hegeman; 1944-71-6

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Botanical Expressions.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2DbSe/
Accession Number 1944-71-6
Object ID 18572193