Golden Lily is one of the most recognisable patterns in the Morris & Co archive, and one that is often misattributed. Here we explain where the design came from, why it has stayed so popular, and which Golden Lily wallpapers and fabrics are available today.
Who Designed Golden Lily?
Golden Lily was designed in 1899 by John Henry Dearle for Morris & Co. It is often credited to William Morris himself, but it is Dearle's work, and it deserves to be known as such. Morris & Co describe it as one of their greatest legacies and most enduringly popular designs.
The pattern's strength lies in its structure. Entwined lily stems and tendrils are arranged along a strong diagonal, which gives the design a sense of movement and order at the same time. That framework is what lets it work across so many scales and colourways.
A Design With a Rock and Roll Past
Golden Lily has had more than one life. In the 1960s it was caught up in a psychedelic furore, when the London fashion outfit Granny Takes A Trip made Golden Lily jackets for pop stars and celebrities, including The Beatles' George Harrison. The Golden Lily Velvet Fabric recaptures that moment. It is printed on a cotton-rich velvet and is very hard-wearing, so it is a great choice for a statement armchair or a pile of cushions.
Golden Lily Wallpaper
The Golden Lily Wallpaper from Morris & Co is printed in airy colourways as well as deeper, dramatic shades, with 14 colourways to choose from. The lighter versions suit bedrooms and sitting rooms where you want pattern without heaviness, while the darker shades make a cosy, enveloping dining room or study.
Clarke & Clarke's William Morris Designs collection also includes Golden Lily Wallpaper by Clarke & Clarke. It is a striking interpretation of the heritage design, with entwined lily stems amid a bed of bright flower heads, here at a reduced scale that makes it a versatile choice for spaces of all sizes. You can see the full selection in our Clarke & Clarke Golden Lily wallpapers collection.
Golden Lily Fabrics
There is a Golden Lily fabric for almost every job in the home:
- Golden Lily Fabric from Morris & Co is printed on a linen-rich blend and is hard-wearing at 40,000 Martindale, so it is ideal for upholstery as well as curtains.
- Golden Lily Minor Fabric is a smaller-scale adaptation printed on 100% cotton, a versatile solution for any shape and size of room, and perfect for blinds and cushions.
- Golden Lily Fabric by Clarke & Clarke shares the reduced scale of its matching wallpaper, so you can coordinate walls and soft furnishings.
- Golden Lily Embroidery Fabric sets the silhouette of the design on a cream ground, with vintage colours and a layered leaf print adding texture and interest.
How to Use Golden Lily at Home
Choose your scale. The full-size design shines on a large wall or a generous pair of curtains. In a small bedroom, a cottage window or on a cushion, a smaller-scale version keeps the pattern readable.
Pair wallpaper and fabric carefully. Using the same design on walls and curtains can look wonderful in a bedroom, but in a busy living room it is often better to paper the walls and pick a plain fabric in a colour taken from the pattern.
Play with texture. Embroidery and velvet catch the light differently from a flat print. A velvet cushion on a linen sofa, or an embroidered panel on a plain headboard, adds depth without adding more pattern.
Explore more of Dearle's and Morris's work in our Morris & Co collection, or visit the shop in Somerset and talk to the team about samples and colourways.
