Beschreibung:

Title: The Tale of King Florus and the Fair Jehane Author: ** Place: Hammersmith Publisher: Printed by William Morris at the Kelmscott Press Date: 1893 Description: Printed in red and black. Illustrated with ornamental woodcut borders and initials. 5¾x4, silk binding with hand-embroidered roundel; silk chemise. Limited to 365 copies of which this is one of 350 on paper. In a unique binding with embroidered roundel and devices, apparently accomplished by May Morris the daughter of William Morris The front cover has a little scene (2¾" in diamter) with a symmetrical composition depicting two birds beneath a leafy tree, in several colors. There are smaller corner medallions done in gold thread. The book is accompanied by a note dated 1933 attesting that this volume was presented to Nathan Oppenheim by the family of Hugh Francis Fox, of London, who had received it as a direct gift from William Morris; and that the embroidery is by the daughter of William Morris In 1885, May Morris had been appointed Head of the Emboidery Department of Morris & Co. In 1893, she published her highly influential "Decorative Needlework", written as a beginner's guide. "May Morris did perhaps more than any other woman of her generation to elevate the status of embroidery as an art and to introduce an innovatory approach to emboidery design. The influence of her work on later embroiderers, internationally, establishes May as a leading figure of the Arts & Crafts Movement..." (May Morris 1862-1938, William Morris Gallery, 1989). Kelmscott Press books in embroidered bindings are very rare. Peterson A21. Lot Amendments Condition: Chemise with frayed ribbon and light wear; wear to corners and spine ends, slight fraying to board edges, some very pale light spotting to endpapers. Item number: 156313