design card
Date
1922-1932
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
153mm X 245mm
width: 17.5 cm (Tracing paper)
height: 25.7 cm (Tracing paper)
width: 17.5 cm (Tracing paper)
height: 25.7 cm (Tracing paper)
Creator
Royal School of Art Needlework: Created by the royal school of needlework as miniature versions of designs which were sent out to clients for next day approval.
Scope and content
Variations of a pencil sketch and watercolour design showing a mythical hunt scene in a variety of colours including blues, greens, yellows reds, and browns. It has also sometimes been mistaken for St George and the Dragon. The notes on the cards suggest that it could be a stool cover or a fire screen, and could be arranged to just have the 'fruit' background or with 'dragon and fruit', one note also suggests that it was inspired by the Chippendale period of furniture.
The design certainly shows the influence of eighteenth century 'chinoiserie'. The presence of books like 'English Furniture, Decoration, Woodwork & Allied Arts During the Last Half of the Seventeenth Century, The Whole of the Eighteenth Century and the Earlier Part of the Nineteen Century' first published in 1900 by Thomas Arthur Strange, in the Royal School of Art Needlework's Paintroom Library during the first part of the twentieth century might suggest the type of historical influences on such designs. The Royal School of Needlework would also often be commissioned to cover and restore antique furniture such as chairs or fire screens and had a stock of suitable historical or historically inspired designs.
This design is part of the RSN's collection of miniature design cards. These were sent out to clients who could then choose their preferred design and commission it from the RSN. This design also exists as prepared work, with an example in the RSN collection (). Prepared work was available pre-drawn and begun by the Royal School of Needlework for clients to finish at home.
There are seven cards and one tracing paper example, all showing the same design. The design depicts a man wearing a hat and cloak while riding a dragon, hunting what appears to be a winged lion, along the top of the design there is also a bird in flight. The background is made of vines showing stylised flowers, leaves, and fruits. There are slight variations to the designs, but in all apart from the tracing paper image, the dragon is shown in shades of brown, with the winged lion being in shades of blue. The man riding the dragon has a cloak in shades of blue, while wearing a yellow tunic with red fold detail. He wears trousers in the colours blue, green, and yellow and has brown shoes. In cards a, c, d, e, and g the man is facing to the left, in cards b, f, and h, the image is reversed and the man is facing to the right.
The design certainly shows the influence of eighteenth century 'chinoiserie'. The presence of books like 'English Furniture, Decoration, Woodwork & Allied Arts During the Last Half of the Seventeenth Century, The Whole of the Eighteenth Century and the Earlier Part of the Nineteen Century' first published in 1900 by Thomas Arthur Strange, in the Royal School of Art Needlework's Paintroom Library during the first part of the twentieth century might suggest the type of historical influences on such designs. The Royal School of Needlework would also often be commissioned to cover and restore antique furniture such as chairs or fire screens and had a stock of suitable historical or historically inspired designs.
This design is part of the RSN's collection of miniature design cards. These were sent out to clients who could then choose their preferred design and commission it from the RSN. This design also exists as prepared work, with an example in the RSN collection (). Prepared work was available pre-drawn and begun by the Royal School of Needlework for clients to finish at home.
There are seven cards and one tracing paper example, all showing the same design. The design depicts a man wearing a hat and cloak while riding a dragon, hunting what appears to be a winged lion, along the top of the design there is also a bird in flight. The background is made of vines showing stylised flowers, leaves, and fruits. There are slight variations to the designs, but in all apart from the tracing paper image, the dragon is shown in shades of brown, with the winged lion being in shades of blue. The man riding the dragon has a cloak in shades of blue, while wearing a yellow tunic with red fold detail. He wears trousers in the colours blue, green, and yellow and has brown shoes. In cards a, c, d, e, and g the man is facing to the left, in cards b, f, and h, the image is reversed and the man is facing to the right.
Transcription
painting room
Reference code
D1/206.a-h
© Royal School of Needlework