Design Card

1875-1922

Item

Dimensions: 77mm x 117mm

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.

Section of a design card with a printed design pasted to it. The design was published in 'The Queen Magazine' on the 11th of June 1887. See ARCH.1887.6. It is a book cover with a violet design for 'Bradshaws'. Bradshaw's was a series of railway timetables and travel guide books published by W.J. Adams and later Henry Blacklock, both of London. They are named after founder George Bradshaw, who produced his first timetable in October 1839.

The Queen Magazine was founded in 1864 and the Royal School of Art Needlework placed regular paid advertisements in the supplement to the magazine. These pages were in colour, which was not common at the time, and featured a wide range of what the RSAN could offer. At one end were large-scale items such as screens comprising of three to five panels and at the other were smaller items like book covers.

D1/100