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Woodpecker (with verse)
This tapestry depicts a woodpecker against an ornate backdrop and was designed by Morris & Co in 1877. With most of the company's output being a collaborative effort involving several artists, the above tapestry is unusual in that it was one of the very few designed by William Morris in its entirety. It shows a woodpecker sitting in the branch of a fruit tree and features Morris's distinctive ornate background of leaves, reminiscent of Mille Fleurs, and his legendary attention to detail.
The idea for the piece was inspired by the legend of Picus, an ancient Italian king turned into a woodpecker by the sorceress Circe because of her jealousy of the king's love for his wife, as recounted by Ovid in Metamorphoses. This version of the tapestry is inscribed with the following verse:
I once a King and chief • Now am the tree-bark’s thief • Ever ‘twixt trunk and leaf • Chasing the prey
The original Woodpecker tapestry is a truly unique object, especially cherished by Morris fans because of his personal involvement. It can now been seen on display at the William Morris Gallery in London.
This tapestry is lined and has a tunnel for ease of hanging.
Originally founded as Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co in 1861, Morris & Co were renowned for the design and production of very high quality decorative art. The range of works included textiles, tapestries and stained glass work, much of which still survives today. Founded on the Pre-Raphaelite principle of authenticity, William Morris embraced an ideal that viewed modern (i.e. 19th century) art as mere mass production, with none of the verve and dynamism of earlier approaches, in particular Medieval art, which they believed retained more of the artist's original personality in the work, lending it a uniqueness lost in mass production. All Morris tapestries should be seen in this light, and are a testament to craftsmanship, technique and discipline, as well as triumphing the artist above the process.
Copyright © 2005 The Tapestry House
Price:
$259.00
|
$759.00
Product code:
c14-verse-s
Size:
25" x 40"
|
30" x 61"
Shipping weight:
12
lbs
Material:
80% Cotton 20% viscose blend
Country:
France
Category: Tapestry Wall Hangings
> William Morris
This product is available in 2 sizes.
| Woodpecker (with verse) ~ 25" x 40" | $259.00 | |
| Woodpecker (with verse) ~ 30" x 61" | $759.00 |
All prices in US Dollars (US$)
| We offer free shipping world-wide for all our tapestries. In addition there is an express option. Prices and approximate delivery times are noted below. | |||
| USA, Canada | UK, Europe, Asia, World | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Express | Standard | Express |
| $0 | $10 - $35* | $0 | $20 - $95* |
| 9-12 days | 6-7 days | 14-21 days | 6-7 days |
| *The final cost for shipping is dependant on the value of an item, please see our Shipping info for full details. | |||
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