A challenging jigsaw of 'The Owl' - a glorious arts and crafts silk embroidery wall hanging kit designed around 1895 by John Henry Dearle, featuring fluttering insects, botanicals and berries in jewel colours.
Dearle was a textile and stained glass designer trained by William Morris. He joined the firm at around 19-years-old to work as a shop assistant, then progressed to a design apprentice, and eventually became Art Director when Morris died in 1896. Dearle's work often went unattributed, with many designs exhibited and sole under Morris' name. Although Dearle's work is close to Morris' aesthetic, his work is is now recognised as having its own unique vision.