ADVENT MISTLETOE

Study of mistletoe, with a man's head, by May Morris

This elegant mistletoe drawing, in pen and brown ink over graphite, exemplifies May Morris’s delicate botanical studies. An intriguing and mysterious element of the drawing is the tiny man's head in profile in the top left corner.

Drawing directly from nature, May Morris, daughter of William Morris, was a leading embroiderer and designer of the late 19th-century Arts & Crafts movement in Britain.

After studying at the South Kensington School of Design, Morris took over the embroidery section of her father’s company, Morris & Co, in 1885. From this point forward, almost all new embroidery designs produced by the company were by May and her father’s assistant, John Henry Dearl. Throughout her career, she continued to draw inspiration directly from nature, producing numerous botanical sketches and patterns.

In 1907, Morris also founded the Women’s Guild of Arts in response to the gender-exclusive Art Workers Guild. This initiative to raise the status and bargaining power of independent female artists revealed Morris as not only a talented designer but also a bold advocate for the recognition of women in the creative professions. 

The Ashmolean Museum holds one of the largest collections of May Morris’s designs, comprising more than 300 items, ranging from roughly sketched ideas to finished outline patterns. 

Many of these designs are available to view upon request in the Western Art Print Room

Study of mistletoe, and a man’s head in profile
Pen and brown ink over graphite on cream paper, 1880-1890
May Morris (1862–1938)
17.5 x 25.2 cm
WA1941.108.133

Not on display