{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O270853"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O270853/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019MF6835/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019MF6835/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2019MF6835","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019MF6824","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O270853/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O270853","accessionNumber":"T.166-1973","objectType":"Curtain","titles":[{"title":"Strawberry Thief","type":"manufacturer's title"}],"summaryDescription":"This printed cotton furnishing textile was intended to be used for curtains or draped around walls (a form of  interior decoration advocated by William Morris), or for loose covers on furniture. This is one of Morris' best- known designs. He based the pattern and name on the thrushes which frequently stole the strawberries in the  kitchen garden of his countryside home, Kelmscott Manor, in Oxfordshire. Despite the fact that this design was  one of the most expensive printed furnishings available from Morris & Co., it became a firm favourite with  clients. \r\n\r\n\tThe pattern was printed by the indigo discharge method, an ancient technique used for many centuries mostly  in Asia. Morris admired the depth of colour and crispness of detail that it produced. He first attempted to print  by this method in 1875 but it was not until 1881, when he moved into his factory at Merton Abbey, near  Wimbledon, that he succeeded. \r\n\r\n\tIn May 1883 Morris wrote to his daughter, 'I was a great deal at Merton last week ... anxiously superintending  the first printing of the Strawberry thief, which I think we shall manage this time.' Pleased with this success, he  registered  the design with the Patents Office. This pattern was the first design using the technique in which  red (in this case alizarin dye) and yellow (weld) were added to the basic blue and white ground.","physicalDescription":"Curtain of white cotton, first dyed with indigo, then discharge printed and then wood block printed. The last print shows a turnover repeat of two types of thrush like birds perched in pairs amidst foliate and floral stems. One pair of confronted birds 'warble' whilst the other pair are about to break off two ripe strawberries. It has a dark indigo ground with the repeat in half-indigo, red, brown, yellow, green, pink and white.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Morris, William","id":"A8676"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Morris & Co.","id":"A1365"},"association":{"text":"retailer","id":"AAT25246"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Cotton","id":"AAT14067"}],"techniques":[{"text":"block printing","id":"AAT53289"},{"text":"discharge printing","id":"x40583"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Cotton discharge and block printed","categories":[{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"},{"text":"Interiors","id":"THES48933"},{"text":"Wall coverings","id":"THES48878"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2019MF6835","2019MF6824"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES312214"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Curtain","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""},{"place":{"text":"Merton Abbey","id":"x37760"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"x46159"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1883","earliest":"1883-01-01","latest":"1883-12-31"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":""},{"date":{"text":"1918-1940","earliest":"1918-01-01","latest":"1940-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Lettice Rathbone","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"47","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"32.5","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"23.5","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"top","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"119.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"82.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"59.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"top","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"0.46","unit":"kg","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'Morris & Co, 17 George Street, Hanover Square'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Cream and black silk woven label"}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"'Strawberry Thief', curtain, printed cotton, British, designed by William Morris, 1883, printed at Merton Abbey, and retailed by Morris & Co., 1918-1940.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Morris & Co label with address at 17 George Street, Hanover Square, indicates that the curtains were lined and made up by the company after the showrooms were established in Hanover Square in 1918.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["T.166-1973"],"accessionNumberNum":"166","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":1973,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-01","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}