William Morris Compton Watch

Description

Echoing the lush colors of John Henry Dearle’s (British, 1860–1932) wallpaper design entitled Compton 1896, our watch features a rich botanical and floral motif. Dearle, chief designer of William Morris’s (British, 1834–1896) interior design firm Morris & Co, used two different shades of green as well as pink and blue pastels for the poppies and tulips in his wallpaper.

18K gold overlay case. Printed plastic band. Quartz movement. Case: 1 1/4'' diam.; Band: adjusts from 5 7/8''L to 7 7/8''L.

Art History

One of the most influential designers of Victorian England, William Morris (British, 1834–1896) was fascinated and inspired by the legends of King Arthur, the writings of Geoffrey Chaucer, and all things medieval. He even modeled the structure of his creative enterprises after the medieval guild system. One of his missions was to break the barrier between fine and decorative arts, a goal he accomplished by turning his design talents to everything from murals and stained glass to furniture, wallpaper, and textiles. His work helped launch the Arts and Crafts movement in England and paved the way for the era of modern design.