This hanging was designed by Arthur Heygate Mackmurdo (1851–1942), an architect, designer and founder member of the Century Guild and the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society. Mackmurdo designed most of the repeating textiles for the Century Guild. He was a close friend of William Morris, and it is likely that some Century Guild wall rugs were made at Morris’ workshop in Merton Abbey. In the 1880s he encouraged another friend, Charles Voysey, to become a designer; his patterns were shown as part of the Century Guild’s exhibits in 1888.

Mackmurdo often based his patterns on real, but unfamiliar and strange-looking, natural forms. As a young man he was strongly influenced by the drawings of the artist Burne-Jones and his swirling designs for stained glass. Mackmurdo developed his unconventional style with the help of his friend and fellow designer Selwyn Image. Later designers in the Art Nouveau style often imitated his eccentric motifs.