Bird Possibly 1878

Today’s feature showcases ‘Bird’, a patterned fabric designed by William Morris in 1878. The repeating pattern depicts two separate pairs of birds, both standing and flying. The birds are surrounded by ornamental floral patterns, including acanthus leaves and cheerful yellow flowers. The design is dominated by a rich blue colour. 🪶 The fabric itself consists of a high quality, heavy wool material. Morris originally created this design for the drawing room of his home, Kelmscott House in London. The drawing room would have been used as a formal reception space for entertaining guests. Can you imagine this fabric hanging from its four walls? What atmosphere would this create? In my opinion, the repetitive pattern provides a sense of calm and serenity. ️ Many of Morris’s fabrics show the influence of medieval patterns. This design definitely reminds me of Middle Ages tapestries! After being designed by Morris himself, the fabric was hand-produced by workers at Morris & Co. The pattern is still used today, sold as curtains and wallpaper in three colourways. William Morris (1834-1896) was an English textile designer who played a key role in the nineteenth century Arts and Crafts movement. This was a trend which rejected industrial mass production in favour of traditional craftsmanship. Morris’s workshop in Merton Abbey, London became a hub for traditional techniques such as weaving, printing, and dyeing. Crucially, he aimed to pay his workers fairly! The comfortable working conditions established by Morris were hugely different from the environments of the industrial factories of the late Victorian era. Many factories were overcrowded and dangerous, with factory managers expecting their workers to endure long hours of around twelve hours per day.