Morris Muse: Catherine Raven Holiday

 

Collection of the William Morris Gallery Waltham

Catherine (Kate) Raven Holiday (1839-1925)

by her brother Milville Raven 1861

In 1864 Kate married painter and stained-glass artist 

Henry Holiday. They celebrated their 60th anniversary in 1924.

Embroidery attributed to Catherine Raven Holiday

Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Morris praised Kate's embroidery techniques and color skills. "I’d back your wife for heavy sums against all Europe at embroidery."

Silk cushion cover by Kate Holiday

Kate began embroidering Morris-designed textiles for Morris & Company in the mid-1870s. William Morris permitted her to commission the colors for silk thread from Thomas Wardle's mill and he allowed her to decide on stitches and techniques to fill the shapes, a show of trust in her talent.

To remember Kate Holiday, Morris's favorite artisan: A pieced star from BlockBase+ where the block is pictured without a name. "Holiday Fest" sounds good. 

Playing with the shading

Pattern above for a 12" Block

Print 8-1/2" x 11"

APPLIQUE OR EMBROIDERY

Collection of the William Morris Gallery Waltham

Table Cover designed by William Morris

Executed by Kate Holiday

92" long

Pattern inspired by Kate's embroidered piece at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

This 1890 exhibition catalog uses the word "darned" to describe Catherine's embroidery.

National Gallery of Melbourne

Design attributed to Kate's husband Henry Holiday

Stitching to Kate