Crocuses can be forced in pots to be brought indoors and they make beautiful, if short-lived, windowsill arrangements. This is Crocuses and Daffodils in Pots (1929, private collection) by Christopher Wood (1901-1930). 

The crocus has also inspired more organic designs, such as this tapestry, 'Crocus, blå' (1946), by Swedish textile artist Ann-Mari Forsberg (1916-92) for the Märta Måås-Fjetterström workshop which is still producing her designs. (Coincidentally, Marta Måås-Fjetterström also designed a more stylised 'Crocus' tapestry in 1930.) This "playfully inventive" wall hanging is in several museum collections, including the V&A. 

In One Woman's Year, Stella Martin Currey describes the Crocus vernus or spring crocus as 'enduring cheerfully as they do in the most uninspiring conditions'. It is this affection for the small flower that made Clarice Cliff's vibrant, hand-painted Art Deco 'Crocus' design of 1928 so immensely popular.

Dorothy Whipple is one of the best writers on Spring. In all her books and short stories, she revels in fresh air and small flowers: snowdrops, celandines, violets, catkins and more. We are led like characters such as Jane in High Wages who enjoys striding out over the hills, and Ellen who gardens in Someone at a Distance. There is a very telling moment in They Knew Mr Knight when Freda stops to admire crocuses before going into the Knights' house - and a different direction to her life. This is a c1932 fabric by Arthur Sanderson & Sons Co, which is in V&A 

It is feeling very springlike here, so this week on the Post we are celebrating small spring flowers - the crocus in particular. This lovely, bright, breezy poster in classic crocus colours (1935) is by Herry Perry (1897-1962); it is in the London Transport Museum collection together with several more cheerful designs featuring crocuses.

Arne Jacobsen (1902-71) is one of the design greats of the twentieth century. Here in the UK, he designed St Catherine's College (1964) in Oxford. His design "went much further than the buildings and grounds, as he created an integrated environment that was both practical and beautiful, including the cutlery, furniture and lighting". This is a 1964 photo of the Junior Common Room with his 'Swan' armchairs. The college is well worth a visit.

Several examples of the famous Margrethe bowl, named in 1954 after the young Princess Margrethe (later Queen Margrethe II), can be found in the excellent Design Museum in Copenhagen. It was designed for the Rosti company (founded in 1944 by Rolf Fahrenholtz and Stig Jørgensen) by Sigvard Bernadotte and Acton Bjørn, and has become an affordable and functional design classic which is available in a range of sizes and colours. Over 25 million Margrethe bowls have now been sold and it remains as popular as ever (and has even featured on a Danish postage stamp).