Strawberry Thief thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Strawberry Thief

Curtain
1883 (designed), 1918-1940 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This printed cotton furnishing textile was intended to be used for curtains or draped around walls (a form of interior decoration advocated by William Morris), or for loose covers on furniture. This is one of Morris' best- known designs. He based the pattern and name on the thrushes which frequently stole the strawberries in the kitchen garden of his countryside home, Kelmscott Manor, in Oxfordshire. Despite the fact that this design was one of the most expensive printed furnishings available from Morris & Co., it became a firm favourite with clients.

The pattern was printed by the indigo discharge method, an ancient technique used for many centuries mostly in Asia. Morris admired the depth of colour and crispness of detail that it produced. He first attempted to print by this method in 1875 but it was not until 1881, when he moved into his factory at Merton Abbey, near Wimbledon, that he succeeded.

In May 1883 Morris wrote to his daughter, 'I was a great deal at Merton last week ... anxiously superintending the first printing of the Strawberry thief, which I think we shall manage this time.' Pleased with this success, he registered the design with the Patents Office. This pattern was the first design using the technique in which red (in this case alizarin dye) and yellow (weld) were added to the basic blue and white ground.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleStrawberry Thief (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Cotton discharge and block printed
Brief description
Curtain of printed cotton 'Strawberry Thief', designed by William Morris, 1883, printed at Merton Abbey, and retailed by Morris & Co., Great Britain, 1918-1940.
Physical description
Curtain of white cotton, first dyed with indigo, then discharge printed and then wood block printed. The last print shows a turnover repeat of two types of thrush like birds perched in pairs amidst foliate and floral stems. One pair of confronted birds 'warble' whilst the other pair are about to break off two ripe strawberries. It has a dark indigo ground with the repeat in half-indigo, red, brown, yellow, green, pink and white.
Dimensions
  • Length: 47in
  • Width: 32.5in
  • Top width: 23.5in
  • Length: 119.5cm
  • Width: 82.5cm
  • Top width: 59.8cm
  • Weight: 0.46kg
Marks and inscriptions
'Morris & Co, 17 George Street, Hanover Square' (Cream and black silk woven label)
Credit line
Given by Lettice Rathbone
Production
Morris & Co label with address at 17 George Street, Hanover Square, indicates that the curtains were lined and made up by the company after the showrooms were established in Hanover Square in 1918.
Summary
This printed cotton furnishing textile was intended to be used for curtains or draped around walls (a form of interior decoration advocated by William Morris), or for loose covers on furniture. This is one of Morris' best- known designs. He based the pattern and name on the thrushes which frequently stole the strawberries in the kitchen garden of his countryside home, Kelmscott Manor, in Oxfordshire. Despite the fact that this design was one of the most expensive printed furnishings available from Morris & Co., it became a firm favourite with clients.

The pattern was printed by the indigo discharge method, an ancient technique used for many centuries mostly in Asia. Morris admired the depth of colour and crispness of detail that it produced. He first attempted to print by this method in 1875 but it was not until 1881, when he moved into his factory at Merton Abbey, near Wimbledon, that he succeeded.

In May 1883 Morris wrote to his daughter, 'I was a great deal at Merton last week ... anxiously superintending the first printing of the Strawberry thief, which I think we shall manage this time.' Pleased with this success, he registered the design with the Patents Office. This pattern was the first design using the technique in which red (in this case alizarin dye) and yellow (weld) were added to the basic blue and white ground.
Collection
Accession number
T.166-1973

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest