Mulberry Home | Curiosity

Curiosity is a large-scale linen print with the spirit of a cabinet of curiosities about it, a loose scatter of botanical specimens and natural history studies drawn as though pinned out on a table rather than repeated in a grid. It belongs to Modern Country I, and it has the collected, slightly eccentric charm of a room built up over generations rather than decorated in one go. Printed on pure linen, it has a dry, matt surface that suits the subject.

The cloth is 100 per cent linen, 148 centimetres wide, with an 86 centimetre vertical repeat and a 74 centimetre horizontal one, so the specimens have real room to breathe and the pattern never feels crowded. It is recommended for curtains, loose and fixed upholstery and bedspreads. There are two colourways: Plum, a deep aubergine ground that makes the specimens glow, and Teal, cooler and more contemplative, better suited to a room that gets a lot of daylight.

We would hang it as curtains in a library or a study, where the subject matter is at home, or use it as a bedspread with plain linen sheets and a single, well-chosen antique nearby. A pair of curtains in Plum against panelling painted a soft off-white is a favourite combination of ours. Sold by the half metre; order a sample to see it in your own light.

A making-up note: with a repeat this large, allow a full extra repeat per drop and ask your maker to plan the specimens so a complete one sits just below the heading. Pure linen moves a little with humidity, so let curtains hang and settle before the final hem is set. It must be dry cleaned, never washed or ironed on the face.

• Composition: 100% linen
• Width: 148 cm (58 in)
• Pattern repeat: 86 cm vertical, 74 cm horizontal
• Suitable for: Curtains, loose upholstery, fixed upholstery, bedspreads
• Care: Dry clean only; do not wash, bleach or iron
• Collection: Modern Country I, Mulberry Home
• Colourways: 2 (Plum, Teal)