We are proud to unveil an exclusive collaboration between the William Morris Gallery and Hand & Lock, launched alongside our new exhibition, Women in Print: 150 Years of Liberty Textiles.
The Hand & Lock production team were given rare access to the Morris Archive to study the work of May Morris, the pioneering head of the Morris & Co. embroidery department. The result is a limited-edition collection that bridges 18th-century technique with 19th-century design.
As royal embroidery specialists since 1767, Hand & Lock has utilised the prestigious art of goldwork to translate May’s nature-infused sketches into three-dimensional art. Each piece—from hand-embroidered brooches to contemporary patches—references specific archival textures, shapes, and colours.
Using metallic threads, fine silks, and precision embellishment, the collection includes hand-embroidered brooches, embroidery kits, and contemporary accessories, offering a modern way to wear a piece of our archive.
The centerpiece of the collection is a contemporary reimagining of a book bag originally designed by May and Jenny Morris to hold their father’s medieval manuscripts. While the original featured the word ‘Psalterium’ in silk gothic letters, our updated version features the title of William Morris’s 1873 poem, ‘Love is Enough.’ Meticulously machine-embroidered in London with hand-finished goldwork embellishments, this piece perfectly captures the spirit of the sisters' original craftsmanship for a modern audience.
This collaboration forms part of our Archive Collection, where rare objects are recontextualised by modern British artisans. Every purchase directly supports the traditional practice of arts and crafts within the UK, while helping to fund the William Morris Gallery’s education initiatives, conservation efforts, and world-class exhibitions.
You can shop the limited collection here