Birds in Fabric Design
Birds have been incorporated into floral designs for centuries and different kinds of birds have been fashionable at different times in history.
Birds of Prey, Doves and mythological Phoenixes were popular in Medieval times. Peacocks were popular in Tudor times and in the Georgian era Pheasants were in fashion.
By the second half of the 18th century, Chinoiserie designs were the height of fashion and exotic birds replaced our native species in fabric and wallpaper designs.
Perhaps the most iconic bird design, is William Morris's 'Strawberry Thief', depicting our native Thrush. First printed in 1883 it remains popular today.
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Strawberry Thief
Photo credit : Morris & Co
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Brighton by Scalamandre.
Photo credit : Judith Miller - The Style Source Book
The inspiration for this design came from wall panels commissioned by the Prince of Wales (George IV) in 1801 for the Brighton Pavilion.
Birds of Paradise and exotic insects and butterflies were typical in English and French designs of the late 18th and early 19th century textiles.
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Tree of Life by Lee Jofa
Photo credit : Judith Miller - The Style Source Book
This design features Birds of Paradise amongst a meandering 'Tree of Life', first seen in Indian and Persian fabrics.
This is a 21st century fabric, which mixes styles from Jacobean crewelwork and 20th century versions of the 'Tree of Life'.
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This design is from 1915
The tapestry style and deep colours were popular at the time.
Pattern and Brand unknown
Photo credit : The Silver Studio Collection
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Poppinjay by Ian Sanderson
Original design from the 1930s
Photo credit: Ian Sanderson
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Bird motifs remain extremely popular in fabric and wallpaper designs today.
Below are a few of the bird design fabrics currently for sale on this website.
From Birds of Paradise to Hawks, each beautiful in their own right.
Fleur Exotique by Warner House
Cameron by Titley & Marr
Glyndebourne by Warwick
Porcelain Garden by Sanderson
Fruit Tree - A John Lewis Fabric
Madrigal by Schumacher
Paradesia by Sanderson
Magnolias and Pomegranates by Sanderson
Arbres by Zoffany
Oriental Bird by GP & J Baker
Water Garden by Acquitaine
Nightingales - A John Lewis Fabric
As a bird lover myself, I have a soft spot for the little Nightingales in this design.
A simple blue design on a linen colour background, this is my favourite of all the fabrics shown here.
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Have any of these designs inspired you?
I hope so 😊
Get Sewing and Be Creative!
All photos are my own unless stated otherwise