Strawberry Thief (William Morris) facts for kids
The Strawberry Thief is a very famous design created by William Morris. It's a repeating pattern used for textiles, like fabric. Morris was a well-known artist and designer from the 1800s. This design is one of his most popular works.
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What Inspired the Design?
William Morris got the idea for the Strawberry Thief from his own garden. He lived in a countryside home called Kelmscott Manor in Oxfordshire, England. He noticed thrushes, which are birds, kept stealing fruit from his kitchen garden. This gave him the idea to create a pattern showing birds among strawberries.
How Was It Made?
Morris wanted to print the Strawberry Thief design using a special method. This method is called indigo-discharge printing. It was a very difficult and time-consuming way to print fabric.
A Challenging Printing Method
Morris first tried this printing method in 1875. But it took him several years to get it right. In 1881, he moved his factory to Merton Abbey, near Wimbledon. This new factory helped him finally succeed with the indigo-discharge method.
Morris's Success
In May 1883, Morris was very excited about the design. He wrote to his daughter about how he was watching the first printing of the Strawberry Thief. He was happy that they were finally able to print it correctly. After this success, he officially registered the design. This pattern was special because it was the first time he used red and yellow colors with the basic blue and white background in this printing method.
Why Was It Special?
Making the Strawberry Thief fabric took many days to finish. Because of all the work involved, it was one of the most expensive cotton fabrics sold by Morris & Co.. Even though it cost a lot, people really loved the design. It became one of Morris's most successful patterns that sold very well.
How People Used It
This printed cotton fabric was used for many things in homes. People would buy it for curtains or to hang on their walls. William Morris thought hanging fabric on walls was a great way to decorate. It was also used to make covers for furniture, like sofas and chairs.
Strawberry Thief in a Game
In 2014, a video game designer named Sophia George created a game based on the Strawberry Thief pattern. She made the game while working at the Victoria and Albert Museum. In the game, players control a bird that flies around the screen. As the bird moves, it helps to color in the famous pattern.
