Philip Webb (1831-1915), the drawing of a fox for the Morris & Co. tapestry The Forest, the

Philip Webb (1831-1915), the drawing of a fox for the Morris & Co. tapestry The Forest, the tapestry designed by William Morris, Philip Webb and John Henry Dearle and woven in 1887 at Merton Abbey, Watercolour and pencil, Dated Michaelmas Day 1886 upper left, Bearing exhibition loan label to the reverse: Wolverhampton Art & Industrial exhibition, 1902, lent by W. Hodson Esq, 89 x 58cm (35 x 22 3/4in), Oak framed. Exhibited: Victoria & Albert Museum ‘Centenary of William Morris’, 1934, no. 60 (set of four). Wolverhampton Art & Industrial exhibition, 1902. Literature: Parry, Linda ‘William Morris Textiles’ New York 1994, p. 111, illustrated. Laurence W. Hodson was chairman of the Fine Art Committee for the Wolverhampton Art and Industrial Exhibition in 1902. The Forest tapestry is now in the Victoria & Albert Museum (T.111-1926). In a letter to the executors of Laurence Hodson in the family papers the then director of the V&A, Eric Maclagan, enquires as to the possibilty of loaning the drawings for the 1934 exhibition. He further notes ‘Perhaps I might also add that the Webb drawings are of particular interest to us here as we acquired the tapestry itself for our collection not many years ago. If therefore any question of their ultimate sale arises, I hope we may be given the opportunity of considering their purchase, although our means are at present exceedingly restricted owing to the cutting off of our purchase grant (plus ça change!)’.

Lots 75-220 are from the collection of Laurence W. Hodson (1863-1933) and thence by descent. To view the full introduction to the collection please visit the Dreweatts website (download the pdf version of the catalogue) or contact Dreweatts Donnington Priory saleroom for details.