Step into the William Morris Gallery and you quickly discover that William Morris's vision was never simply about making beautiful things. It was about transforming everyday life through thoughtful design, skilled craftsmanship and a belief that art should be accessible to all.
That vision continues today through the William Morris Gallery Archive Collection, a unique initiative that invites contemporary makers and designers to engage directly with objects held in the Gallery's collections and archives. The collection showcases newly commissioned works inspired by pieces that were significant to William Morris, his family and the wider Arts and Crafts movement. Far more than reproductions, these works represent a creative dialogue across generations, connecting nineteenth-century ideals with twenty-first-century craftsmanship.
One of the most personal objects in the Gallery's collection is William Morris's own leather satchel. Worn through years of travel, work and creativity, it carries the marks of a life dedicated to art, literature and design.
British leather artisan Kingsley Walters has drawn inspiration from the original satchel to create a contemporary interpretation that honours its simple functionality and enduring craftsmanship. Handmade using traditional leather-working techniques, the bag captures the spirit of the original while meeting the needs of modern life. The result is an object Morris would have recognised: practical, beautiful and made to last. You can hear more about the project with Kingsley Walters here
May Morris was one of the most accomplished embroiderers of her generation, championing embroidery as a serious artistic discipline at a time when it was often undervalued.
Inspired by an embroidered book bag created by May Morris, renowned embroidery house Hand & Lock has produced a contemporary version that showcases the extraordinary skill of hand embroidery. Every stitch reflects the meticulous attention to detail that both May Morris and Hand & Lock are known for, creating a piece that bridges generations of textile artistry.
Among Morris's most enduring furniture designs, the Sussex Chair remains an icon of British design. Originally created in the nineteenth century by Philip Webb for Morris & Co, its honest construction and understated elegance embody Morris's commitment to accessible craftsmanship.
You can hear more about the project with Wilkson & Rivera here
Handmade with a sensitivity to material and form, the pieces celebrate the relationship between craft and everyday life. Their tactile qualities, subtle detailing and functional elegance reflect Morris's belief that ordinary objects should be made with extraordinary care.
The Archive Collection is more than a range of products. It is a conversation between past and present, connecting the objects that surrounded William Morris and his family with the makers who continue to champion craftsmanship today.
Each piece demonstrates that heritage is not something preserved behind glass. Instead, it can be adapted, reinterpreted and woven into contemporary life. Whether through leatherwork, embroidery, furniture-making, ceramics or clothing, the collection embodies the enduring relevance of Morris's ideas: that art should be useful, everyday objects should be beautiful, and craftsmanship should be valued.
By bringing these archival treasures into the present, the William Morris Gallery Shop Archive Collection invites us all to live a little more artfully, just as Morris intended.
You can browse the full Archive Collection here
