Cambridge Exhibit Unearths Morris & Co Star

A new exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge is dedicated to Kate Faulkner, a significant yet historically overlooked designer for Morris & Co. Faulkner was the first designer after William Morris himself to create wallpapers and fabrics for the company, with several of her patterns still in production today.

The exhibition, titled 'A Call to Art: William Morris and the pre-Raphaelites,' aims to re-establish Faulkner's importance. It will feature a monumental 6.3-meter wide oak and silvered-gesso altarpiece commissioned in 1886, alongside her influential textile designs and wallpaper patterns.

Key items on display include a tile based on an Edward Burne-Jones design and painted ceramics. Karen Livingstone, a curatorial advisor, emphasizes Faulkner's role as a key artist in her own right, fundamental to the company's commercial success.

Faulkner's 1879 Mallow wallpaper design remains popular. Despite earning an international reputation, her legacy was overshadowed by Morris after her death in 1898. Livingstone is actively seeking descendants of Faulkner's sister to find a photograph, as none are known to exist.

Research has placed Faulkner at Red House, the birthplace of Morris & Co, around the time of its founding in 1861. She was involved in creating an Artemis embroidery for Red House, a crucial period when the company's concept was forming. This places her within discussions about the company's establishment.

By 1862, Faulkner and her sister were producing embroideries for sale. Her designs, like 'Carnation' registered in 1875, were integral to Morris & Co's output. Livingstone suggests more of Faulkner's work may still be misattributed to Morris.

The exhibition runs until May 3, 2027, and aims to provide a broader understanding of Morris and his artistic circle.