Iris

Although the influence of contemporary Indian textiles is apparent in this design, Morris also found inspiration in a German printed linen purported to be from the fifteenth century that he had studied at the South Kensington Museum. Morris also employs a willow motif, a popular contemporary pattern, in the background. As with wallpaper, Morris had specific ideas on how the woodblocks for textile printing should be cut. He has added instructions to the block-cutter on this design, noting that: "The block must have square ends that is it must not follow the shape of the pattern."