Design for 'Peacock and Bird' carpet

This pencil design is for a carpet (see William Morris Gallery N17), possibly the first to be made at William Morris's factory at Merton Abbey. The partial sketch demonstrates how Morris would build patterns by repeating sections, carefully illustrating only what was necessary to construct the full image. In the final piece, the central pattern is mirrored to create a symmetrical effect, whilst the surrounding borders feature curling plant stems and acanthus leaves.

In the late 1870s, Morris wrote to a friend, “I am studying birds now to see if I can’t get some of them into my next design”. A number of designs incorporating birds followed, including this energetic pair of squawking peacocks. However it is unclear whether the birds in this design were produced by Morris or his friend and associate Philip Webb, who often supplied drawings of birds and animals for Morris's designs.