Tulips and Peacocks: William Morris and Art from the Islamic World
Tulips and Peacocks: William Morris and Art from the Islamic World examines how Morris’s personal collection of art from Iran, Syria, and Turkey informed his pattern-making. The illustrated publication also places his collecting and design in conversation with debates about colonial collecting, museum representation, and cultural appropriation.
At a glance
- Connects William Morris’s pattern-making to artworks he collected from Iran, Syria, and Turkey.
- Covers varied objects, from nineteenth-century tourist merchandise to historically significant artefacts.
- Includes perspectives on colonial collecting, the representation of Islam in museums, and cultural appropriation.
Reference price: $50.00
Price checked: Nov 14, 2026
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Pros and cons
Pros
- The focus links Morris’s celebrated pattern designs to specific cross-cultural influences and collecting history.
- Its discussion includes contemporary museum and cultural-appropriation debates, beyond design history alone.
- The listing describes the book as highly illustrated.
Technical specifications
8 specifications| Publisher | Yale University Press |
|---|---|
| Publication date | October 8, 2024 |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 200 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0300276168 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0300276169 |
| Weight listed | 2.47 pounds |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 10.87 x 0.94 x 8.9 inches |
Who is it for?
A good fit for
- Readers interested in William Morris, Arts and Crafts design, textiles, or pattern history.
- Readers seeking discussion of Islamic-world art and its reception in British design and museums.
Less suited to
- Readers looking only for a pattern catalog or a practical guide to making designs. The listing emphasizes collection history and critical context.
Customer reviews on Amazon
- 5 stars
60% 60% - 4 stars
19% 19% - 3 stars
21% 21% - 2 stars
0% 0% - 1 star
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Aggregate ratings lean positive, with a substantial share in the five-star category, but the sample is small and includes three-star ratings. No written customer feedback is supplied, so the ratings do not establish what readers liked or disliked. For a book described as illustrated and focused on Morris’s collection and its cultural context, the limited sample offers little detail about image quality or depth of discussion.
Frequently asked questions
What is this book about?
It introduces William Morris’s personal collection of artworks from the Islamic world and explores how that collection influenced his pattern-making.
What themes does the book address beyond Morris’s designs?
The listing describes discussion of colonial collecting, the representation of Islam in museums, and cultural appropriation.
How long is the book?
The listed print length is 200 pages.
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