Tyger tyger brings together poetry, animal drawing and botanical research. Hermès identifies William Blake’s poem as a source for Alice Shirley’s design and says she drew on botanical illustrations in London’s Natural History Museum. In the house’s account, the tiger is accompanied by plants and flowers associated with India’s Periyar reserve. These connections come from a direct design explanation, rather than from an interpretation imposed on the title.[1]
The currently documented product is the Tyger Tyger scarf 70, reference H984285S08. Hermès specifies silk with hand-rolled edges and gives actual dimensions of 66 by 66 centimeters, allowing for variation from hand finishing. Those details concern this product, not the inherited 90-centimeter version or every subsequent adaptation.[1]
The initial year remains unsettled. The inherited record says 2015, while a May 2016 BURO interview labels an illustration of Tyger Tyger as autumn/winter 2014. That caption is editorial metadata, not an original collection document and cannot resolve the disagreement by itself. Shirley’s interview describes extensive research as part of her practice, but no unsupported childhood or family anecdote is needed to explain the design here.[2]
Sources and limits
2 recorded evidence origins. Distinct publishers do not establish independent historical corroboration.
- Tyger Tyger scarf 70 H984285S08 · HermèsConsulted 2026-10-27 · openedProduct fields; The story behind lines 89–91 · Same origin as Hermès press documents; current 70 product cannot establish initial issue of inherited 90 format. Product selected color and page title conflict; colors not used.
- Interview with Alice Shirley · BURO MalaysiaConsulted 2026-10-27 · openedInterview body lines 106–108; Tyger Tyger caption line 127 · Artist testimony primary for practice. AW14 is an editorial caption, not an artist statement or collection record.
The design identity and correspondence of individual versions remain unconfirmed. Separate publishers do not demonstrate independent historical dating.