Rare, unusual and interesting antique costumes and textiles; for museums and collectors looking for that extra special piece, for new and established collectors and for those with a modest budget who want to adorn their person or home.

SOLD

Glasgow School
c 1900

A label attached states that this piece was worked at the GSA and is the kind worked by teachers, attending Saturday classes, wishing to improved their design/embroidery skills. The label with this piece states that is was probably worked by a teacher attending the Saturday classes. This was the opinion of Liz Arthur, former curator of textiles at GSA, Adele Ashley-Smith, former Archivist and Chrissie White, a research fellow.

Ann Macbeth took charge of the special Saturday classes at the GSA. These were set up for teachers under Article 91d of the Scottish Code of Regulartions for the Further Training for Teachers of 1899 . These were for primary and secondary school teachers who took a course in needlecraft and after three years were eligible for a certificate of proficiency issued by the Scottish Education Department. Needlecraft became a general requirement for women teachers in Glasgow and the West of Scotland. The numbers being taught embroidery at the Art School rapidly expanded. In 1901 Jessie Newbery, who started the embroidery classes, appointed Ann Macbeth to take charge of the Saturday classes.

The embroidery produced at the school was recognised nationally and internationally for its originality of design and materials used. The embroidery department became one of the most important departments in the school.

See: Macfarlane, Fiona C & Arthur, Elizabeth F Glasgow School of Art Embridery 1894-1920 p 4-6

Cataloguing

of Art, the natural linen ground embroidered with circular tulip flower sprays to each corner connected by stylised lines and foliage, all in shades of soft olive greens, beige and cream, 20 x 18 in; 50 x 46 cm.

Condition

The colouring of this piece is really lovely but when you turn it over you realise it has faded. The greens are the same but the white tulips were pale blue and the cream lines were slightly more yellow. If this was framed up I think you would be well pleased.
One corner has a couple of feint marks as well as one in the circle. The other corner has another couple of even feinter markings. Photos available if you cannot see in the min pictures.