Rabbit Pattern Printed Fabric (no. 23583)

William Morris

c. 1938

A printed cotton textile by William Morris that repeats a medieval‑inspired motif of rabbits, birds, and stylized foliage to bring handcrafted, nature‑based ornament into everyday interiors.

At first glance it reads as a dense, tapestry‑like field of cream animals and scrolling leaves against a rich red ground, with mirrored rabbits and birds arranged in strict vertical rhythms that make the pattern both lively and orderly.

This design is a hallmark of the Arts and Crafts movement’s revival of traditional pattern‑making and the integration of nature into domestic decoration, a legacy that reshaped textile and wallpaper design well into the 20th century.

Palette

Art Terms

Arts and Craftsmovement Design Textile Print Furnitureand interiors Organic

Exhibitions

Textiles U.S.A.

1956

Design Trends in Unit Furniture, Fabric and Tableware

1946

Printed Textiles for the Home

1947

Modern Architecture in England

1937