United Kingdom Part Eight:: Bill and Chuck

My love for William Morris's artistry is no secret. I've been so involved with his fabrics for so long than I usually call him "Bill."

A contemporary of Bill's, one Charles Rennie Mackintosh, caught my eye not long ago, and Joe and I decided that after our Road Scholar tour ended in Edinburgh, we would travel up to Mackintosh territory, i.e., Glasgow for a few days. It turned out that on the day that we were to see all things Mackintosh, I spent a couple of hours at the Royal Infirmary and a few more in my bed. I'd picked up a cold from a Road Scholar mate, and it had settled in my chest so seriously that I was afraid I had bronchitis. So I didn't get to see much at all of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, but what I did see persuaded me that he was going to be my new boyfriend, and I started thinking of him as "Chuck."

Bill's tea room at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Bill's designs at the V&A.

More Bill at the V&A.

Oops, back to Bill's Tearoom.

What I didn't anticipate was running into Bill at Brideshead Castle Howard!

This chair was part of the Bill exhibit at the V&A. So I thought it to be his design.

And THIS chair was at the Willow Tea Room in Glasgow, so it must be Chuck's design! No matter which of them designed it,
I want it.

This chair is definitely Chuck's, at the Lighthouse in Glasgow.

Terrible photo of a coat rack at Chuck's tea room.

Inside the Willow Tea Room.

I was so happy to be at Willow Tea Room. You wouldn't guess how sick I was.

My wonderful tea partner.

Joe got to do about half of the Mackintosh tour that we'd planned. He loved it, and says we will have to return to Glasgow so that I can see it all. Until then, here are Bill (on the left) and Chuck (on the right).