GP & J Baker | Rockbird Velvet

Rockbird Velvet takes one of GP & J Baker's characterful bird motifs, a stylised bird perched among branches, and renders it as a velvet at a genuinely large scale: the repeat is 103 by 120 centimetres, close to the cloth's full width, so a single bird and its setting can fill most of a cushion or a chair back on its own.

The cloth is 90 per cent cotton and 10 per cent polyester, a firmer ground than the viscose-rich velvets elsewhere in the collection, which gives the pile a slightly crisper hand. It is 120 centimetres wide, with a 103 centimetre vertical and 120 centimetre horizontal repeat, and GP & J Baker tested it to 20,000 Martindale rubs, a figure suited to occasional rather than the heaviest daily use. Two colourways, Indigo and Teal, both deep, even tones that let the bird motif read clearly.

We would use it for a single statement chair or a pair of cushions where the scale of the bird has room to sit properly, rather than spreading it across a large sofa where the repeat would be lost in the seams and cushioning. Pair it with a plain linen or wool in Indigo or Teal, and keep the rest of the scheme quiet so the bird carries the room. Sold by the half metre; order a sample to see it in your own light.

Because the repeat is so large, plan pattern placement with your upholsterer before cutting, centring a full bird on the main panel wherever possible; a small chair may only show part of the motif, so check this before committing to the piece. At 20,000 rubs, keep it to lightly used seating rather than a family sofa in daily use.

• Composition: 90% cotton, 10% polyester
• Width: 120 cm (47 in)
• Pattern repeat: 103 cm vertical, 120 cm horizontal
• Abrasion resistance: 20,000 rubs (Martindale)
• Suitable for: Upholstery, Curtains
• Care: Dry clean professionally; do not wash, bleach or iron
• Collection: Signature Velvets, GP & J Baker
• Colourways: 2 (Indigo, Teal)