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.

Design cards recording two cushion designs, a stork and peacock. The style of the birds is suggestive of art nouveau and perhaps dates it to the 1890 onwards. The design card with the name Royal School of Art Needlework dates it to before 1922 when the organisation dropped the 'Art' from their title.

The first design labelled in pencil "Cushion Peacock Brennand' shows two peacocks in profile and a central peacock , with peacock feathers above.

The second labelled in pencil ' Cushion Stork Brennand' shows three storks in profile, the central one is larger , surrounded with trefoil leaf design.

There is little information about the designer 'Brennand', there are no entries in the Admissions register for this name, but they may none the less have been a internal designer from the Royal School of Art Needlework Paint-room. The RSAN also used external designers who were usually named on the design records.

Labelled in pencil 'Cushion Peacock Brennand' and 'Cushion Stork Brennand' The card is printed 'Royal School of Art Needlework, Exhibition Road, South Kensington' at the top, and 'KINDLY RETURN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE' at the bottom

D1/032