This tapestry depicts a woodpecker against an ornate backdrop and was designed by Morris & Co in 1877. With most of the company's output being a collaborative effort involving several artists, the above tapestry is unusual in that it was one of the very few designed by William Morris in its entirety. It shows a woodpecker sitting in the branch of a fruit tree and features Morris's distinctive ornate background of leaves, reminiscent of Mille Fleurs, and his legendary attention to detail.

The idea for the piece was inspired by the legend of Picus, an ancient Italian king turned into a woodpecker by the sorceress Circe because of her jealousy of the king's love for his wife, as recounted by Ovid in Metamorphoses. This version of the tapestry is inscribed with the following verse:

I once a King and chief • Now am the tree-bark’s thief • Ever ‘twixt trunk and leaf • Chasing the prey

and without verse



tree of life


- bill 11-03-2006 2:34 am [add a comment]

Is that decor going to work in your shipping container dream home?
- L.M. 11-03-2006 2:58 am [add a comment]

house numbers


wm morris willow boughs wall paper



the container home is still a dream. im making book marks for my real home (a plane jane 1870 victorian). the hallway needs something. i think im going for the woodpecker no verse tapestry 30x48. the tree of life is kind of a snooz
- bill 11-03-2006 3:09 am [add a comment]