Design Card

1875-1922

Item

Dimensions 153mm X 245mm

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.
Image, Selwyn: Selwyn Image (17 February 1849 – 21 August 1930) was a designer associated with the Arts and Crafts Movement. He designed across multiple media, and is particularly known for his stained glass windows, but also designed furniture, embroidery and illustrated books. He contributed designs over a number of years to the Royal School of Art Needlework. He was also the seventh Slade Professor of Fine Art at the University of Oxford from 1910 to 1916.

Royal School of Art Needlework (later Royal School of Needlework) design card recording four border designs in pencil showing different flower patterns and one including two birds.

The first border is a design of twisted leaves including acanthus style leaves.
The second border is a twisted acanthus leaf design with two birds.
The third border is a version of the Selwyn Image tulips found in another RSAN paint room folio and dated there as 1886. The design shows twisted leaves and tulip blooms.
The fourth design has twisted acanthus leaves and stylised flower motifs, including possibly tulips.

The card is printed 'Royal School of Art Needlework, Exhibition Road, London S.W.' at the top, and 'It is respectfully requested that designs sent for selection be not kept more than ONE CLEAR DAY and to prevent damage in the post should be returned in the cards sent herewith. It is found necessary to make a charge for replacing designs returned in a damaged condition' at the bottom

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