The Strawberry Thief
designed 1883
Medium
printed, dyed & painted textiles
Classification
printed, dyed & painted textiles
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Robert W. Friedel
Accession Number
1951-103-23
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**The Strawberry Thief** is a captivating textile design created by Morris & Co., the renowned London-based firm founded by William Morris in 1861. Designed in 1883, this exemplifies the Arts and Crafts movement's ethos, which sought to counter the mechanized ugliness of the Industrial Revolution by reviving medieval-inspired craftsmanship and natural motifs. Morris & Co. specialized in handcrafted wallpapers, textiles, and furnishings, making beauty accessible for homes and interiors. Printed, dyed, and painted by hand, the fabric showcases intricate techniques like woodblock printing and natural dyes, which highlighted skilled labor over mass production. The titular "thieves"—playful thrushes pilfering ripe strawberries amid lush foliage—capture Morris's love for medieval tapestries and English gardens, blending whimsy with organic patterns that seem alive. Now part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection through the gift of Robert W. Friedel, *The Strawberry Thief* endures as a testament to design reform, influencing modern textiles and reminding us of art's power to elevate everyday life. (178 words)
About the Artist
Morris & Co., (London, England) ( ) · 1770 –1815
active ca. 1770–1815