Peacock and Dragon (Blue)
1878 · Woven wool, weft-float faced twill, lined with linen · The Art Institute of Chicago
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About this work
- Artist
- William Morris (1834–1896)
- Year
- 1878
- Medium
- Woven wool, weft-float faced twill, lined with linen
- Original size
- 217.5 × 171.7 cm
- Collection
- The Art Institute of Chicago
- Movement
- Arts and Crafts
The same peacocks and dragons in a cooler scheme: buff and copper birds outlined against blue and blue-green, with olive accents, in a repeat of about 110 by 84 centimetres. William Morris designed the pattern in 1878 and had it woven thick in wool to recreate the weight of medieval tapestry. The V&A holds a set of curtains in this design from the hall at Clouds, the Wyndham family's country house in Wiltshire, and the firm later described it as a favourite with its author that needed a large room to set it off. The image is built entirely from three colours of weft thread. This example, two panels pieced and lined with linen, was produced at Queen Square or Merton Abbey and is in the Art Institute of Chicago.
This exhibition-poster edition shows the whole sample beneath original typography set in-house. The design is in the public domain.
Where it works
Buff birds on blue and blue-green have a cool, tapestry-like depth for a study, library or large bedroom wall. Pair it with Peacock and Dragon (Olive) at 24×36 in black.
Style, size & framing detail
- Style
- Exhibition poster of an Arts and Crafts pattern
- Era
- 19th century (1878)
- Orientation
- Portrait
- Palette
- cream & beige
- Mood
- decorative, classic
- Rooms
- bedroom, study or library, dorm room, hallway or entryway
Size. We'd hang this one at 24×36. Prints at 12×18, 16×24, 24×36 in — 12×18 for a shelf, desk or a gallery-wall grid; 16×24 above a desk, console or in a hallway; 24×36 as the statement piece above a sofa or bed.
Framing. Exhibition posters sit best in a slim black frame with no mat — the typeset margin is the mat.
Pairing. Hangs alone or as a matched pair; three or more prints are 10% off.
Details & materials
Shipping & returns
Is this the whole design, or a crop?
Is Peacock and Dragon (Blue) in the public domain?
What is it printed on?
When was Peacock and Dragon (Blue) designed?
What size should I choose?
About this design
The Madten promise
The full-bleed print
The pattern printed edge to edge, filling the whole sheet like a panel of the original wallpaper or fabric.





























