William Morris Founds Decorative Arts Firm Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co.

The iconic firm was modeled on a craftsman’s workshop and took a pioneering stand against the non-functional role ascribed to art. The firm specialized in wallpaper designs with natural imagery but grew to manufacture furniture, textiles and stained glass as well. It stressed handcrafted production over the use of machine. Another important concept developed by Morris Co. was that the artist (or designer) should take a holistic approach, becoming involved in the entire creative process. These innovations would prove greatly influential to the upcoming Arts & Crafts movement. According to Frank Popper, this firm and the related Arts & Crafts movement were foundational in the development of the Bauhaus and even digital art, textile design and wallpaper patterns.