The colours are still very bright and unfaded. The design was inspired by the Morris’ attempts to grow strawberries in their garden, thwarted by the thrushes who would creep in and eat them. The robber birds, and the strawberries that they take, are not included in the piece of the design available here. The birds are very characterful; would make a very warm and tasteful addition to a room. Of the nineteen patterns registered by Morris & Co between May 1882 and September 1885, seventeen were designed to be printed by the indigo discharge method. A very similar piece is in the V&A collection, item number T.586-1919. Parry, Linda William Morris Textiles p 155, no. 46
designed by William Morris indigo discharged and block printed on cotton, with two birds either side of a large flowerhead, each in pink and yellow, and green and light blue fronds with pink flowers encircling the central motif, 6 x 38 ½ in; 15 x 98 cm.
Excellent.
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