GP & J Baker | Persian Pomegranate

Persian Pomegranate is a documentary print from the Crayford collection, GP & J Baker's archive of historic pattern reissues, and it takes its cue from a Persian textile tradition of stylised fruit and foliage set out in a formal, symmetrical repeat. The pomegranate motifs sit within a 90 by 66 centimetre repeat on a pure linen ground, giving the design real scale and presence, with the measured, hand-blocked quality that marks it out as an archive design rather than a contemporary print.

The cloth is 100 per cent linen and 132 centimetres wide, with a 90 centimetre vertical and 66 centimetre horizontal repeat. It is rated at 35,000 rubs on the Martindale test, so it is rated for upholstery as well as curtains. GP & J Baker specify it for curtains, loose and fixed upholstery and bedspreads. There are two colourways: Aqua/Multi, a cooler, multi-toned reading, and Red/Indigo/Stone, a warmer combination that pairs a strong red with indigo and a pale neutral ground.

We use it for curtains in a room that wants a genuine statement print, and its Martindale rating means it can also cover a chair or a section of a sofa for a more considered, upholstered take on the same design. Aqua/Multi suits a cooler, more contemporary room; Red/Indigo/Stone has the warmth for a more traditional scheme. A cushion or two in the alternate colourway is an easy way to bring both readings of the print into the same room. Sold by the half metre; order a sample to see the scale and colour in your own light.

Allow one full repeat per drop and match carefully across widths so the pomegranate motifs align at the seams. Line and interline curtains, and press from the reverse to protect the print. For upholstery, ask your maker about railroading and centring the motif on a large panel such as a sofa back, and check pattern placement carefully before cutting into an expensive run of cloth.

• Composition: 100% linen
• Width: 132 cm (52 in)
• Pattern repeat: 90 cm vertical, 66 cm horizontal
• Abrasion resistance: 35,000 rubs (Martindale)
• Care: Dry clean only; do not wash, bleach or iron
• Collection: Crayford, GP & J Baker
• Colourways: 2 (Aqua/Multi, Red/Indigo/Stone)