Designer Biography

Walter Crane

Born: 1845

Died: 1915

See items in our stock by Walter Crane

Crane was a prolific designer of wallpaper, textiles, embroideries and ceramics, but his most important influence was through his highly original book illustrations, selling 10,000 copies of the Babies opera in its year of publication, 1877, a figure which had risen to 50,000 by 1898.  His earliest ceramic designs were for Wedgwood, in 1867; he designed tiles for Maw & Co., from 1874 and for Pilkington's; wallpapers for Jeffrey & Co., from 1874; and embroideries for the Royal School of Art Needlework from the same date. In 1880 he became Art Superintendent of the London Decorating Company and went on to design both tiles and hollow ware for Maw & Co.   His designs for damask tablecloths were made by John Wilson & Sons, London. He designed the mosaic frieze for Aitchison's Arab Hall in Lord Leighton's Kensington house and studio in 1877. He was a founder member of the Art Workers' Guild. He visited America in 1891-2, where his work made a considerable impact. He was given a special award for his contribution to the English Section at Turin in 1902, and in 1898 became the head of the London school of design, which later became the Royal College of Art.

The Magazine of Art, 1887, Lewis F. Day reported of the decorative work of Walter Crane:

‘ The proof of the artist’s exceptional gifts is that there is actually no one with whom to compare him.  Mr. Burne Jones has not turned his attention to work so distinctly ornamental; Mr. Morris has confined himself almost entirely to ornament.  One could wish, in the interests of English decorative art, that there were a score of his like among us, to share with him the credit he reflects upon us’.