Leaf from the Kelmscott Chaucer - William Morris
Archival giclée
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Made to order
Description
A reproduction of a page from the 1896 Kelmscott Chaucer, featuring William Morris's signature decorative borders and woodcut illustrations.
This print reproduces a page from the Kelmscott Chaucer, a project widely considered the pinnacle of William Morris's career as a book designer. Produced at the Kelmscott Press in 1896, the volume represents a return to the craftsmanship of the medieval period. Morris sought to create a book that functioned as a unified work of art, where typography, illustration, and ornament existed in perfect balance.
The page features the opening of the Canterbury Tales, showcasing Morris's signature decorative borders. These borders are filled with dense, intertwining vine and leaf motifs, which frame the text and the woodcut illustration. The illustration itself, designed by Edward Burne-Jones, depicts a figure in a garden setting, rendered with the clean, bold lines characteristic of the woodcut medium. The typeface, known as Chaucer, was designed by Morris specifically for this project, drawing inspiration from early Venetian printers.
Every element on the page, from the large, decorative initial letters to the carefully spaced lines of text, reflects the philosophy of the Arts and Crafts movement. Morris rejected the mechanisation of the Victorian era, preferring the tactile quality of hand-pressed ink on high-quality paper. The result is a page that possesses a rhythmic, architectural quality. The stark contrast between the black ink and the off-white paper creates a visual clarity that allows the viewer to appreciate the precision of the woodcut technique. This print offers a glimpse into the meticulous process behind one of the most significant achievements in the history of printing. It captures the aesthetic vision of Morris, who believed that the objects of daily life, including books, should be beautiful as well as functional.
Return policy
Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
Shipping
We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Leaf from the Kelmscott Chaucer - William Morris
Artist Biography
William Morris
Morris learned his craft through a unique blend of academic study, artistic collaboration and hands-on experimentation. While at Oxford University he immersed himself in medieval literature and architecture, forging lifelong friendships with Pre-Raphaelite painters who shared his passion for nature and medieval aesthetics. After graduation he studied pattern making, dyeing and weaving techniques by working directly with artisans and by founding the firm Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. in 1861. This workshop-school model allowed Morris to develop his signature style—melding historic motifs with innovative colour palettes—while training a generation of craftsmen in hand block printing and tapestry weaving.
He became known for his most popular artworks through an enduring series of textile and wallpaper patterns that remain iconic today. Designs such as Strawberry Thief, inspired by thrushes in his own kitchen garden; Willow Bough, with its dancing branch motif; and Trellis, featuring interlacing vines, exemplify the seamless blend of function and beauty at the heart of Morris & Co. These bestselling William Morris wallpaper designs and fabric prints were exhibited at international fairs and commissioned for country houses and town residences throughout Britain and beyond. By combining rich botanical imagery with meticulous handcraft techniques, Morris's most popular artworks set new standards in decorative design and continue to influence interior trends worldwide.
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