Whistler Peacock Room Silk Scarf
Last updated: 13 October 2026
The Whistler Peacock Room scarf is a pure silk scarf printed with the gold peacocks from James McNeill Whistler's Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room, 1876 to 1877. Tate made it for its Whistler retrospective at Tate Britain and sells it only through Tate Shops. It measures 160 x 48cm and costs £120, and I checked the price and stock on the Tate Shop on 13 October 2026.
What the Whistler Peacock Room scarf is
The scarf is 100% silk, printed with gold peacocks and plumage on a deep blue ground. At 160 x 48cm it is long and narrow, so Tate suggests three uses: a light shawl, a headscarf, or a panel hung or framed on the wall.
Tate made it for James McNeill Whistler, the Tate Britain retrospective that ran from 21 May to 27 September 2026. Tate described the show as the first major European exhibition of Whistler's work in 30 years.
The room behind the design
The Peacock Room was the dining room of Frederick Richards Leyland, a wealthy shipowner and Whistler's main patron. It was built to show Leyland's collection of Chinese blue-and-white porcelain. Whistler then took over the decoration in 1876 and 1877. He covered the ceiling in squares of imitation gold leaf and filled the room with painted peacocks and their plumage.
The room no longer stands in London. It has been on show at the Freer Gallery of Art in Washington DC, part of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art, since 1923.
Key facts
- Price: £120
- Material: 100% pure silk
- Size: 160 x 48cm, about 63 x 19 inches
- Design: gold peacocks and plumage from Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room
- Seller: Tate Shops only, online and in the galleries
- UK delivery: free, because the scarf costs more than Tate's £60 free delivery line; Tate aims to deliver within 1 to 3 weeks
- Returns: free within 30 days for a refund, replacement or exchange
Who the Peacock Room scarf suits
- People who saw the Whistler show: Tate made it for the exhibition, and the design comes from the room Whistler decorated for his main patron.
- Silk scarf wearers: the long, narrow shape works as a shawl over a coat or wound as a headscarf.
- Anyone after wall art without buying a print: Tate suggests hanging or framing it as a textile panel.
The limits
£120 is a lot for a scarf, and you are paying for the Whistler design as much as the silk.
Tate's listing gives no care instructions. Check the label when it arrives, and assume dry cleaning or a gentle hand wash until you have.
Framing it as a panel means a frame about 160cm wide, which will add a significant cost on top of the scarf.
The exhibition closed on 27 September, and Tate has not said how long the scarf will stay in stock. Delivery can take up to 3 weeks, so for a Christmas present, order well before December. Tate has also paused shipping to the EU since December 2024.
Where to buy the Whistler Peacock Room scarf in the UK
Tate Shop is the only seller, online and at the Tate galleries. Tate's own page calls it part of a collection made only for Tate Shops, and I struggled to find it anywhere else. The exhibition details are on Tate's page for the Whistler retrospective, and the room itself is on the Smithsonian's Peacock Room page.
Our review of Whistler at Tate Britain covers the show the scarf was made for.
Whistler Peacock Room scarf at Tate Shop
FAQs
How much is the Whistler Peacock Room scarf?
It costs £120 at Tate Shop, the price I checked on 13 October 2026. UK delivery is free because the order clears £60.
What is the scarf made of, and how big is it?
It is 100% pure silk and measures 160 x 48cm.
What artwork is the scarf based on?
Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room, the dining room Whistler decorated for Frederick Leyland in 1876 and 1877. The room is now at the Freer Gallery of Art in Washington DC.
Can you still buy it after the Tate Britain show?
Yes. The exhibition closed on 27 September 2026, but Tate Shop still had the scarf in stock in October.
Where can I buy the Whistler Peacock Room scarf?
Only from Tate Shops, online at shop.tate.org.uk or in the shops at the Tate galleries.
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