Mayura Animal Velvet Cushion - Mustard

The Mayura cushion is a square velvet cushion in a warm mustard-gold, measuring 55 x 55cm and carrying a hand-embroidered peacock across one face. The bird is worked in beadwork and thread: a beaded body, fine stitched legs and a long trailing tail picked out in green, bronze and pearl beads that catch the light as you pass. Against the plain velvet ground, the embellishment is the whole point of the piece, and it sits off to one side rather than centred, so the cushion reads as a picture rather than a pattern. The face is polyester velvet and the reverse is the same, with a plain back finished as an Oxford edge.

A single embellished cushion like this earns its place on a bed, a reading chair or one end of a sofa, where it can be seen properly and where the beadwork will not be sat on hard. It suits a room with a bit of depth to it, resting well against darker upholstery or plainer linen where the mustard ground and the peacock have room to speak. Because the design is one-sided and off-centre, angle it so the bird faces into the room rather than the wall.

Velvet has a directional pile, so the colour shifts a shade lighter or deeper depending on how the light falls and which way you smooth it, and that movement is part of how velvet looks. The cover closes with a zip along one edge, which lets you take it off, and the cushion is filled with duck feathers, which gives it weight and a soft plumped shape you can knock back into form. The zip also means the inner can be adjusted or swapped. Do keep the beadwork in mind when handling it, as the embellished area is the part that wants the gentlest treatment.

What is the cushion made of?

The cover is polyester velvet on both the front and the back, giving it a soft pile and the shifting depth of colour that velvet is known for.

What is inside the cushion?

It is filled with duck feathers, which give it real weight and a plump, forgiving shape that you can knock back into form after use.

How big is it?

It measures 55 x 55cm, a generous square that works well as a single feature cushion on a bed, a chair or the end of a sofa.

Can I remove the cover?

Yes, there is a zip closure along one edge, so you can take the cover off or adjust and swap the feather inner as you wish.

How should I look after the beadwork?

The embroidered and beaded peacock is the most delicate part, so handle that area gently and avoid resting weight or rubbing directly on the beads.