This design was one of May Morris’s most successful embroidery designs. The original design is in the V&A E.956-1954. Examples also exist in the collections of Manchester School of Art, Crabtree Farm and Museum of South Australia. This example is particulaly fine and showcases May Morris’s technical skill, the overall design is worked in split, long, short and satin stich in silks on a gauze background. The outer border of the roundel is inscribed with the opening lines of Robert Herrick’s (1591-1674) poem ‘Welcome, maids of honour, you do bring in the Spring and wait upon her,’ worked in Gothic lettering. Four birds with outstretched wings are placed in the four corners.
