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 card recording a design for a book cover, showing three groups of three stylised daisies. These are labelled in pencil 'Crane daisy - also forget-me-knot in same style'. This could be either Arts and Crafts Movement designer and illustrator Walter Crane or his brother Thomas Crane, both of whom worked for the Royal School of Art Needlework (later the Royal School of Needlework) in the last quarter of the 19th century. Stylistically perhaps slightly more likely to be Thomas Crane who provided illustrations for Mary Lockwood's Art Embroidery: a treatise on the revived practice of decorative needlework in 1878 and contributed to the designs for the Royal School of Art Needlework's stand at the Philadelphia International Centennial Exhibition in 1876.

Printed 'Painting Room'. Labelled in pencil 'Crane daisy - also forget me knot group in same style'. 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

D1/043a-b