A new exhibition at The William Morris Society’s Museum in Hammersmith.
Exhibition Highlights Objects from a Passionate Morris Collector.
A new exhibition at The William Morris Society’s Museum in Hammersmith highlights a collection of beautiful objects donated by a passionate Morris collector. Helena Stephenson was an enthusiastic admirer of William Morris the Victorian designer, poet and socialist and a friend of his daughter designer May Morris. Collecting Morris: Highlights from the Helena Stephenson Collection runs from 14th September through to 13th April 2025. The exhibition includes original hand-drawn designs for commercial wallpapers, custom commissions, and textiles.
Items featured include works saved by Helena from the Morris & Co. offices in 1940 upon dissolution of the firm. Helena not only saved these precious items of decorative art history, but she also saved William Morris’s Hammersmith home. She and her husband Morton purchased the riverside property in 1925 to save it from being converted into a boat house. The Stephenson’s greatly enjoyed living in the house for the next 47 years. Helena died in 1972 having bequeathed the house to The William Morris Society who retain the basement rooms and coach house as a museum, shop and space for workshops, talks and events. The exhibition includes highlights from Helena’s life in the house and explores the impact of her generous legacy for The William Morris Society to this day.
Collecting Morris: Highlights from the Helena Stephenson Collection
Exhibition runs from 14th September 2024 to 13th April 2025.
In the Coach House, Kelmscott House, 26 Upper Mall, Hammersmith, W6 9TA
Open Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday 2 – 5pm. Free admission for residents of Hammersmith & Fulham.
Images, items from Collection of The William Morris Society:
• Flyer for the exhibition
• 'Pink & Poppy' Original Design, William Morris, 1880
• 'Pink & Poppy' wallpaper, Dark Green and Cream, William Morris, 1880
William Morris Society, Kelmscott House, 26 Upper Mall, Hammersmith W6 9TA