The acanthus leaf has to be one of the most enduring motifs in the history of furniture and home furnishings. It shows up everywhere, carved on furniture, painted or stenciled on walls, on drapes, drapery rods, woven into tapestry or fabric for upholstered furniture.
Acanthus is a hardy perennial plant and the form of its deep cut leaves inspired Greeks to carve them on Corinthian columns. Since then acanthus leaves have provided a steady source of inspiration to designers and craftspeople through centuries. Furniture from Louis XVI period shows a widespread use of the acanthus leaf. One of the best known uses of the acanthus leaf was for a wallpaper design by William Morris. You can take a look at his sketch for the design here.
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