Large Syringa c. 1874

Edward William Godwin created this textile, titled "Large Syringa." It is a testament to the power of symbols to transcend time. The textile is dominated by a repeating circular pattern, which on closer inspection reveals itself to be an intricate display of stylised floral motifs. The circle, a potent symbol of cyclical time, infinity, and wholeness, appears throughout cultures and eras. We see the same impulse to enclose floral emblems within a circular form in ancient Greek pottery and Renaissance-era tapestries. In these earlier iterations, the circle, much like here, symbolized the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth. In the "Large Syringa" we see a Victorian reinterpretation of this ancient motif. In this context, it evokes a sense of order and harmony within the domestic space. The floral pattern, itself a symbol of nature’s beauty and renewal, becomes regimented, reflective of the Victorian era’s emphasis on control and structure. A powerful reminder of how symbols evolve, accumulating layers of meaning as they travel through history and the collective psyche.