Whistler Peacock Room Silk Scarf

Last updated: 28 July 2026

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What is the Whistler Peacock Room scarf?

Put simply, it is a 100% silk scarf that reproduces the gilded peacocks from one of the most famous rooms in art history. Tate produced it alongside its 2026 Whistler survey, so it sits neatly between gift-shop souvenir and proper design object. Consequently you get a genuine slice of Whistler on silk, rather than a flimsy print. The blue is almost black, the peacocks are gold, and the whole thing reads as luxurious rather than loud.

The story behind the design

Firstly, the source. Between 1876 and 1877 Whistler decorated a dining room for the shipping magnate Frederick Leyland, turning it into Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room. Originally Thomas Jeckyll designed the room to display Leyland's blue and white porcelain. However Whistler took over while Leyland was away, and he covered the walls, ceiling and shutters in Prussian blue and gold leaf. Then, after a bitter row over payment, he added two fighting peacocks titled Art and Money; or, The Story of the Room. Today the entire room lives at the Freer Gallery of Art, part of the Smithsonian in Washington DC. The scarf therefore carries a genuinely spiky backstory, not just a pretty pattern.

Key features at a glance

• Material: 100% pure silk.
• Size: 160 by 48 cm, so it is long enough to wrap or drape.
• Design: gold peacocks and plumage on a deep blue ground, drawn from the Peacock Room.
• Price: £120 from the Tate shop.
• Uses: a shawl, a headscarf, or framed as textile wall art.

Seeing it in person

Honestly, photographs undersell this one. On screen the blue can look flat and the gold a little dull. In the flesh, though, the silk catches the light and the peacocks genuinely glow. Furthermore the Tate Britain shop displays it framed on the wall, and framed is where it truly comes alive: it stops being a scarf and becomes a small painting. Do bear in mind that a frame of this size will usually cost more than the scarf itself, so budget accordingly if that is the look you want.

How to wear or display it

Practically, you have three options. You can wear it as a light shawl over a coat, wind it up as a headscarf, or skip wearing it altogether and frame it. Because the pattern runs horizontally and sits roughly landscape when opened out, it frames beautifully as a single panel. Alternatively, drape it and the peacocks fall into soft folds. Either way, silk this fine deserves gentle care, so treat it as dry clean only unless the care label says otherwise.

Price, delivery and where to buy

The scarf costs £120 and it is sold through the Tate shop. Tate offers free UK standard delivery on orders over £60, so this qualifies; otherwise UK delivery is £5 and international is £28. Standard UK delivery usually takes about a week. If you want the wider context first, our Whistler at Tate Britain review walks through the exhibition the scarf was made for, and the official Tate exhibition page lists dates and tickets.

Buy the Peacock Room scarf (£120)

FAQs

How much is the Whistler Peacock Room scarf?

It costs £120 from the Tate shop. Delivery is free in the UK on orders over £60, which this comfortably clears.

What is the scarf made of, and how big is it?

It is 100% pure silk and measures 160 by 48 cm. As a result it is long enough to wear as a shawl or to frame as a panel.

What artwork is it based on?

It draws on Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room, the 1876 to 1877 interior Whistler created for Frederick Leyland. That room now sits at the Freer Gallery of Art in Washington DC.

Can you frame the Peacock Room scarf?

Yes, and it looks superb framed. The Tate Britain shop shows it that way. However a frame this size normally costs more than the scarf, so factor that in.

Where can I buy it?

It is available from the Tate shop, both online and in Tate galleries, while stocks last. Because it ties to the exhibition, it may not stay in stock indefinitely.

More from CoolCuration

• Hurvin Anderson silk scarf: another artist scarf if the Whistler is not quite your palette.
• Tracey Emin Tate blanket: more collectable textile from the Tate stable.
• Gifts for Japan lovers: Whistler borrowed heavily from Japan, and so can your gift list.
• theprintspace discount code: if you would rather print and frame your own art.
• National Art Pass: free and discounted entry to hundreds of galleries and museums.

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