William Morris wallpaper icons, part 6: Strawberry Thief

[cimorene]

William Morris's "Strawberry Thief" was and remains his most popular pattern. Designed in 1883 as a printed textile for curtains and wallcoverings, it was inspired by a scene of thrushes stealing strawberries from the garden at Kelmscott Manor. The initial design had been drawn in the 1870s, but it took ten years to achieve the first successful printing because of the intricacy of the design and Morris's insistence on traditional methods.

Earlier William Morris wallpaper icons

Free to download, share, and modify. Credit appreciated!

Comments

[just_ann_now]

These are gorgeous!

[cimorene]

Thanks! 😊

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

I was wondering when you were going to get to the Strawberry Thief. I will take #1, row 2.

[cimorene]

I almost didn't, actually, because it's so busy and low-contrast that it's very hard to miniaturize! The full effect of the fabric requires seeing a bigger section, but if you shrink a bigger section to icon size you can't really make out the birds and strawberries anymore. I gave up several times before I made these.