Flight Through Time: The Revival of a Watts Classic
Designed by Bespoke Only - Photography: William Jess Laird
Among Watts 1874’s most iconic wallpapers, Bird stands apart—not for being loud or ostentatious, but for the quiet strength of its design. First drawn around 1871, Bird is an intricate interplay of delicately rendered birds, looping foliage, and flowering branches that feels as fresh today as it did over 150 years ago.
Artistic Origins: Gothic Revival Roots with an Exotic Twist
Bird in 'Gilbert Grey', launched in 1990's as part of the 'Hoar Cross' Collection
Rooted in the decorative currents of the late 19th century, the pattern blends English naturalism with the lyrical elegance of 18th-century Chinoiserie. It’s a design that evokes movement while remaining still, order without rigidity. The birds are not exotic caricatures, nor strictly native; they are dreamlike - imagined creatures that speak to a Victorian yearning for beauty and mystery in equal measure. This blend of realism and stylisation means the design doesn’t date itself to one era’s fashion; instead, it feels classically grounded.
Bird "Autumn" colourway, inspired by the original hand block print.
Timeless Appeal: Why “Bird” Still Sings to Us Today
Originally, George Gilbert Scott’s design, further refined by G. F. Bodley, would have been rendered in the rich but muted palette of the late 19th century. Victorian Gothic Revival interiors favoured “mediæval tones” – tertiary hues that were complex and slightly softened. The pigments and hand-block printing techniques of the time also lent a matte, chalky finish, further mellowing the colours.
Today, Bird is enjoying a bold and brilliant revival. Through Watts 1874’s recent collections, the design has been reimagined into a kaleidoscope of contemporary palettes with fanciful names like “Strawberry” and “Banana Butterscotch” and “Atlantic Moon”. The intricate line work remains untouched, but the mood shifts dramatically with colour: from soft and timeless to vibrant and ever contemporary.
Modern revival of the “Bird” wallpaper in a vibrant teal colourway, “Dawn Chorus”.
These modern interpretations use brighter, cleaner pigments and daring contrasts that Victorian decorators only could have dreamed of. For instance, one striking reissue places Bird’s entire motif in a single bold hue (such as turquoise) printed on a crisp ivory background – a high-contrast look that feels utterly modern. By playing with adventurous palettes, we demonstrate that the design has the timeless versatility to adapt, with an underlying pattern is so strong it can handle a complete costume change.
Bird "Dawn Chorus" as featured in Architectural Digest
Photography: William Jess Laird
A Victorian Bird in Contemporary Nests
Far from being a dusty relic, the enduring success of Bird offers lessons for contemporary designers. One takeaway is the value of blending influences to create something new yet timeless – just as Bodley fused Gothic medieval motifs with a Chinese wallpaper style, today’s creatives can mix cultural inspirations to enrich their work. In an era of fast trends and flat surfaces, Bird stands for something slower, richer, and more considered. It’s a reminder that great design doesn’t date - it deepens.