William Morris designed Bird for the drawing room at Kelmscott Manor, where it can be seen today in the indigo colourway. It can also be seen in the dining room at the National Trust property Standen, another Phillip Webb designed house. Our piece shows the red colourway.
The large piece has now sold. I still have the narrow length available.
Woven woolen double cloth designed by William Morris in 1878, handloom Jacquard woven at Merton Abbey, with a red background and light green birds amonst flowers and foliage.
Length 7ft 3 in; 2.2 m
Width 6ft 3 in; 1.9 m
Pattern Repeat 281/2 x 18 1/2 in; 72.5 x 47 cm
1 full width selvedge to selvedge + 26 in; 66 cm
The main width is in excellent condition. The section to the right, as you should be able to see from the photos has slight fading to the right hand side. The edges have been turned under ready for a hanging.
The photos have made the length look more pink than red. The colour on the photo of the whole piece is correct.
Parry, Linda William Morris Textiles p 224
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