Stealing the show with Strawberry Thief
Your top 5 favourites
William Morris’s 1881 classic, Strawberry Thief, artistically captures the moment he caught a single thrush pinching strawberries from his garden at Kelmscott Manor, Oxfordshire. Rather than allow this fleeting moment to pass him by, Morris was bemused by the charm, drama and mystery of the natural world that he only saw a glimpse of. Perhaps that’s why individuals still fall in love with this pattern even over 100 years after it was first created.
Our five-fingered feathered friend remains a fan favourite, even to this day. To pay tribute to the enduring charm of William Morris’ Strawberry Thief, our team of designers have added new chapters to its story and offered fresh new takes on this iconic pattern. Here are five of our favourite ways to showcase Strawberry Thief and bring that cheeky charm of nature into your home.
THE CLASSIC
Morris originally intended Strawberry Thief to be a beautiful fabric. Due to his love of handcraft techniques and hatred of modern chemical dyes first used during the Industrial Revolution, he laboured to perfect the Indigo-Discharge dye method, using only organic dyestuffs. This version of Strawberry Thief remains our most authentic version available today, retaining the look and feel of Morris’s original from our archive.
THE EMBROIDERED
Here at Morris & Co., we know that having a fabric that feels as good as it looks is an essential part of the design experience. Appealing to touch, as well as sight, is how we create a multi-sensory space that we love to spend time in.
The Pure Strawberry Thief Embroidery brings the same refined charm as the original, albeit in restrained colour stories, but adds a moment of tactile delight.
Available with two different stitching densities, you can order a sample of this versatile fabric for any upholstery or drapery project.
THE UPLIFTING
When Strawberry Thief was first crafted, Morris & Co. were toying with conventional Victorian tastes. At once busy and intricate, Morris & Co. sought to add realism and enjoyment of nature, at odds with the prevailing interiors trends.
With Simply Strawberry Thief, we wanted to add yet another counterpoint. Created to soothe but never to alter the ultimate shape and form of the original pattern, wallpaper and fabric designs from our Simply Morris collection breathe calmness and serenity through Morris & Co.’s portfolio of heritage designs.
THE DRAMATIC
One for the statement-lovers, the wall-art-makers and the bold motif pioneers!
Unrolling this wallpaper, full of gloriously saturated hues, is certainly one way to make an impact. Whether it’s a statement wall or full room wraparound, our Strawberry Thief wallpaper is bound to take your breath away, along with the strawberries!
Don't forget there's Strawberry Thief paint too!
Paint can be a craftsperson’s best friend. Perfect for teasing out key colour groups, or even balancing a scheme, paint is on hand for everything from finishing touches to luxury layering.
Named for its rich strawberry-red, much like that of the ripe strawberry beloved by the thieving thrush, our Strawberry Thief red paint is bright and beautiful.
