The Decorative Arts. Their Relation to Modern Life and Progress.

Ellis and White, London, 1878

First edition of the first published lecture by William Morris. Scarce in this exemplary state.

Description: Sewn as issued in publisher’s printed light blue paper wrappers. Duodecimo: 18 × 12 cm; pp. 32.

Condition: Light age toning to edges of covers. Internally clean and free of marks. According to its age a near fine copy.

Notes: In The Decorative Arts Morris first formulated his guiding principle that the decline in the artistic quality of the things around us was the result of the separation of art and craft, and that only a reunion of art and craft could lead to better design. Morris repeated and refined this idea in various lectures he gave between 1877 and 1885. It was also this principle that eventually led to the founding of the Kelmscott Press.