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.
Scope and content
Print pasted onto a design card recording a Viking ship design on the sea with three lions on sail and cross design on flag. There are fish or dolphins in the foreground and sea birds in the sky.
This is a really interesting design card to find in the Royal School of Needlework's collection as it essentially advertises a direct competitor and appears to come from the catalogue of Morris and Co. The RSN and Morris and Co have a long mutual history and William Morris provided designs for the school in the 1870s and 1880s as did many of his colleagues and contemporaries like Walter Crane, Edward Burne-Jones and Selwyn Image. Morris's sister-in-law Elizabeth (Bessie) Burden was employed by the school during the 1870s and the school even named a stitch after her, the Burden Stitch. Burden also worked for the embroidery department of Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co.
https://rsnstitchbank.org/stitch/burden-stitch
The text references a poem by Robert Browning By The Fireside, The poem references ships symbolically but is really about the quiet introspection of old age and was probably seen as an appropriate subject for a fire screen.
Text: How well I know what I mean to do When the long dark autumn evenings come -'by the fireside' Browning.
Viking ship - Morris and Company have a number of unique designs appropriate for all purposes, many of which are equally suitable for working in 'tapestry' darning or other stitches.
All the designs shown are traced and coloured by hand and the prices include starting portions for the work and supplying the necessary wools for finishing.
Thee Viking ship is specially suitable for a firescreen or cushion and costs 45 (cut off)
This is a really interesting design card to find in the Royal School of Needlework's collection as it essentially advertises a direct competitor and appears to come from the catalogue of Morris and Co. The RSN and Morris and Co have a long mutual history and William Morris provided designs for the school in the 1870s and 1880s as did many of his colleagues and contemporaries like Walter Crane, Edward Burne-Jones and Selwyn Image. Morris's sister-in-law Elizabeth (Bessie) Burden was employed by the school during the 1870s and the school even named a stitch after her, the Burden Stitch. Burden also worked for the embroidery department of Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co.
https://rsnstitchbank.org/stitch/burden-stitch
The text references a poem by Robert Browning By The Fireside, The poem references ships symbolically but is really about the quiet introspection of old age and was probably seen as an appropriate subject for a fire screen.
Text: How well I know what I mean to do When the long dark autumn evenings come -'by the fireside' Browning.
Viking ship - Morris and Company have a number of unique designs appropriate for all purposes, many of which are equally suitable for working in 'tapestry' darning or other stitches.
All the designs shown are traced and coloured by hand and the prices include starting portions for the work and supplying the necessary wools for finishing.
Thee Viking ship is specially suitable for a firescreen or cushion and costs 45 (cut off)
Transcription
Morris & Co. Design card printed 'Royal School of Art Needlework Exhibition Road Spent Kensington' on top, 'Kindly return as soon as possible ' on bottom Printed 'Painting Room'
Reference code
D1/013
© Royal School of Needlework