May Celebrations

Claire Saul looks at the achievements of May Morris, the subject of a new exhibition at Port Sunlight

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William Hesketh Lever came from humble beginnings to make his fortune with Lever Brothers. By the late 1880s, booming sales necessitated the relocation of his business to a larger, purpose-built site on the Wirral shore of the Mersey. The village he created there to house his workforce was named Port Sunlight, in honour of his most successful brand of soap. Business was one of Lever’s passions. Another was art, and his millions allowed him to amass an outstanding collection of works. The Lady Lever Art Gallery was opened at Port Sunlight in 1922, welcoming everyone to enjoy his collection. Its visitors today still admire one of the UK's finest collections of fine and decorative art, including the world’s best collection of Wedgwood Jasperware and an internationally renowned collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings.

This year they can also enjoy the exhibition May Morris: Crafting a Legacy, which shines the spotlight on the considerable talents of the younger daughter of artist and designer William Morris. Today, May is recognised as one of the most pioneering women of the Arts and Crafts movement he co-founded. Through a selection of embroidery, wallpapers, designs, sketches, books, costume and jewellery drawn from prestigious UK museums and private collections, the exhibition showcases May's exceptional ability as a designer, maker, tutor, lecturer and writer — and a socialist ahead of her time.