Design Card
Date
1875-1922
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
Dimensions: 153mm X 245mm
Creator
Royal School of Needlework: Created by the Royal School of Art Needlework as miniaturised versions of designs. Original designs were miniaturised and either traced or copied onto 'Design Cards' which were sent out to clients for next day approval. This was part of the work of the 'Painting Room' sometimes referred to as the Paintroom, the department responsible for all design and draftsmanship.
Crane, Walter (Mr): Walter Crane (15 August 1845-14 March 1915) was a prolific illustrator, designer and painter and part of the Arts and Crafts and Aesthetics Movements. Involved in the Holland Park social scene and a close friend of William Morris, Crane joined the Social Democratic Federation in 1884 and the Fabian Society in 1885. A founding member of the Art Workers Guild and the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society, he was president until 1893, and again from 1896 until 1912, following the death of William Morris. In his autobiography (An Artists Reminiscences, p.164) he writes that as well as being on the advisory committee for the RSN, ‘along with William Morris, George Aitcheson […] and Fairfax Wade’ he contributed many designs 'for screens, panels, and other things, in which I introduced birds (notably peacocks), and other animals, and many of them are still worked I believe.'
Crane, Walter (Mr): Walter Crane (15 August 1845-14 March 1915) was a prolific illustrator, designer and painter and part of the Arts and Crafts and Aesthetics Movements. Involved in the Holland Park social scene and a close friend of William Morris, Crane joined the Social Democratic Federation in 1884 and the Fabian Society in 1885. A founding member of the Art Workers Guild and the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society, he was president until 1893, and again from 1896 until 1912, following the death of William Morris. In his autobiography (An Artists Reminiscences, p.164) he writes that as well as being on the advisory committee for the RSN, ‘along with William Morris, George Aitcheson […] and Fairfax Wade’ he contributed many designs 'for screens, panels, and other things, in which I introduced birds (notably peacocks), and other animals, and many of them are still worked I believe.'
Scope and content
Peacock Screen or The Vain Jackdaw. Multiple versions, pencil on card and pencil on tracing paper.
This design card shows a design for a 4 panel screen by Walter Crane. This was the earliest design produced by Crane for the RSN and the design was completed in 1875. It is based on an Aesop fable (from a collection of Ancient Greek stories). The Vain Jackdaw sees the peacocks in the King's garden and wishes to be like them. The panel on the right shows the jackdaw attempting to make himself a peacock tail from discarded feathers. The peacocks see through the disguise and chase him away. The jackdaws also reject him, for leaving them. The moral is that fine feathers do not make a fine bird. The three screens to the left show peacocks, peahens and pomegranate trees. The fourth screen shows the jackdaw in a humbler bush with berries with four feathers attached. Another jackdaw is handing him a fifth feather, so some support from his own community. There is a border along the bottom of all four screens with a stream with goldfish and a narrow stylised scalloped border under that, which surrounds whole screen.
The large format design by Crane for this work is also in the Royal School of Needlework's collection and a screen to this design was displayed at the 1876 Philadelphia International Centennial Exhibition and was worked on silk. This design remained popular through the rest of the century. The design is very evocative of the Aesthetics Movement, peacocks with their showy feathers and elegance were a popular motif for both the Aesthetics and the related Arts and Crafts movement. Birds were a popular motif for Crane who used a crane as part of his own signature.
This design card shows a design for a 4 panel screen by Walter Crane. This was the earliest design produced by Crane for the RSN and the design was completed in 1875. It is based on an Aesop fable (from a collection of Ancient Greek stories). The Vain Jackdaw sees the peacocks in the King's garden and wishes to be like them. The panel on the right shows the jackdaw attempting to make himself a peacock tail from discarded feathers. The peacocks see through the disguise and chase him away. The jackdaws also reject him, for leaving them. The moral is that fine feathers do not make a fine bird. The three screens to the left show peacocks, peahens and pomegranate trees. The fourth screen shows the jackdaw in a humbler bush with berries with four feathers attached. Another jackdaw is handing him a fifth feather, so some support from his own community. There is a border along the bottom of all four screens with a stream with goldfish and a narrow stylised scalloped border under that, which surrounds whole screen.
The large format design by Crane for this work is also in the Royal School of Needlework's collection and a screen to this design was displayed at the 1876 Philadelphia International Centennial Exhibition and was worked on silk. This design remained popular through the rest of the century. The design is very evocative of the Aesthetics Movement, peacocks with their showy feathers and elegance were a popular motif for both the Aesthetics and the related Arts and Crafts movement. Birds were a popular motif for Crane who used a crane as part of his own signature.
Transcription
The card is printed Royal School of Art Needlework at the top, Kindly return as soon as possible at the bottom. Pencilled writing on pencil and paper version reads Screen and first three panels are numbered 1-3. Other pencilled writing reads right size of each panel without borders 4ft 10" x 22"
Reference code
D1/001.a-b
© Royal School of Needlework