Peacock TapestryWall Tapestries

Peacock Tapestry: Morris, Luogo & More

The Peacock tapestry is one of the most striking of all of William Morris tapestry works.
William Morris and Co created the tapestry called “the Forest” which featured the peacock as well as 3 other forest animals.

The Peacock Tapestry image William MorrisThe Peacock Tapestry

The peacock by William Morris shows something special…

Produced in 1887, it is thought that this perhaps was collaboration between Morris, Webb and Dearle who may have designed the floral details of the foreground.
The forest creatures included the rabbit, the lion, the magpie and the wolf.
The peacock however holds a special attention due to its beauty and mysticism.
Why is this?
The peacock is often thought of as one of the most majestic creatures of the forest, due to its extravagant plumage, and is unique in that they possess such strong colors as royal blue, greens and golds.
For this reason, they are often thought of as having the resurrection abilities of a phoenix, being a symbol of the ability to renew life.
The acanthus leaves in this work is a trademark of the works of Morris and Co and a William Morris tapestry gives the work a feeling of intricacy.
In this piece however, the acanthus leaves are bulging out in several sections in a larger, gray tone to give the background added dimension.
The flowers in the foreground place the image in a fertile and very floral forest floor.
There is even a single flower bloom which stands taller than the others just asking to be noticed for its individuality.
The Peacock is considered one of William Morris’ most extravagant works.
The works of Morris which feature forest creatures, reminds us of the source of inspiration for beauty is often found in nature itself, and so these pieces by Morris is often seen as a celebration of nature.

The symbolism of the peacock…

The peacock whether it represents rebirthing, eternal life, or life essence, is a creature that is touted for its uniqueness in the animal kingdom as well as its rich symbolism.

Peacock image

The peacock in Buddhism is a symbol of divinity and transformational powers.
It is said that peacocks have the ability to eat poisonous plants and are unaffected. The Bodhisattva in Buddhism in a similar way possesses these powers for transformation of negative energy into positive, from ignorance to enlightenment.

Un Paradise In Terra Peacock TapestryUn Paradise In Terra

According to the teachings of a Buddhist teacher in the 10th century, the ingestion of poison by the peacock and turning its body bright and beautiful is a symbolism of their power to transform ignorance to awareness, confusion into clarity.
In Christianity, the peacock represents eternal life and immortality because the peacock sheds and renews its colorful feathers every year.
In an ancient Christian stone painting, the peacock guards the entrance to heaven.

Conclusion

The Peacock is a William Morris design which is adorned with detail.
The hallmark details of the floral forest floor, and the ever present acanthus leaves is unmistakable.
It is this curious placement of natural elements but in a stylized way that makes a Morris work unique and very appealing.
And finally, for those who appreciate meaning in works of art, the symbolism of the peacock is rich in spirituality.
For a different peacock tapestry see this design here, a modern work depicting a garden scene:

Peacock Tapestry imagePeacock Tapestry – Luogo Tanquillo

This tapestry of the peacock shows the peacock’s wonderful plumage in a garden scene that borders on fantasy and the classic rendition of gardens with ancient buildings in the background in a atmospheric scene.

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