Strawberry Thief
Design 1883, made 1883–1917
Medium
Cotton; plain weave, block printed, wool trim with tassels
Dimensions
283 × 106 cm (111 1/2 × 41 3/4 in.); Repeat: 50.9 × 46 cm (20 × 18 1/8 in.)
Classification
printed textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
149052
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Islamic textiles informed the design of this 19th-century printed curtain. William Morris, a key figure in the British Arts and Crafts Movement, reportedly fashioned this pattern after watching birds steal strawberries from his kitchen garden. The flattened profile of the birds as well as the stylization of the plant forms highlight Morris's appreciation and adaptation of Islamic designs. These small birds invading a strawberry patch have charmed consumers for more than 120 years, making Strawb...
About the Artist
William Morris · 1834–1896
William Morris (1834–1896) was a British designer, craftsman, writer, and socialist activist who became the most influential figure in the Arts and Crafts movement and one of the most important designers in British history. Born in Walthamstow, Essex, he studied at Oxford, where he formed a lifelong friendship with Edward Burne-Jones and came under the influence of John Ruskin's writings on art, l...