Voysey Birds

The Voysey Bird is hidden in the negative space in this print from my Moda reproduction collection.

Charles F.A. Voysey was an architect who, like William Morris before him, believed that the whole house should show an integrated design. The above metal plate was one of his signature images. He covered the vents in his houses with this stylized bird and tree.

Birds often figured in his textile and wallpaper patterns.

He loved playing with  figure and the ground. Sometimes

the bird was the figure, as in the colorway above. 

Sometimes the birds are hidden in the background.

The birds hold up the flower above.

Voysey's birds are often interpreted as self-portraits.

Another self-portrait?

His birds frequently look like doves or pigeons.

They're often paired as

in love birds for this bookplate for

the Mortons.

A swallow?

Crows on this fireplace surround?

Voysey's bird designs offer many ideas for applique.

See another at the Victoria and Albert Museum's website: