William Morris' 'Bird' pattern of 1878 was designed to be hung on the walls of the Drawing Room of his new family home at Kelmscott House. The double wool cloth was hand woven on jacquard looms at the Queens Square premises. The present covering would appear to date from the late 1870s/80s, the sofa having possibly been 'revived' by the addition of new upholstery and castors at the same time.