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Items in The Glasgow School of Art's Mackintosh collection include: furniture, watercolours, drawings, architectural drawings, design drawings, sketchbooks, metalwork and photographs.

Mackintosh studied evening classes at the Glasgow School of Art between 1883-1894, winning numerous student prizes and competitions including the prestigious Alexander Thomson Travelling Studentship in 1890. Mackintosh and his contemporaries also produced four volumes of a publication called "The Magazine" during their time as students, which included examples of their writing and artworks. GSA Archives and Collections hold Mackintosh's Italian Sketchbook, as well as all four volumes of The Magazine, all of which can be browsed on our catalogue.

The majority of Mackintosh's three-dimensional work was created with the help of a small number of patrons within a short period of intense activity between 1896 and 1910. Francis Newbery was headmaster of The Glasgow School of Art during this time and was supportive of Mackintosh's ultimately successful bid to design a new art school building in 1896 - his most prestigious undertaking. For Miss Kate Cranston he designed a series of Glasgow tearoom interiors and for the businessmen William Davidson and Walter Blackie, he was commissioned to design large private houses, 'Windyhill' in Kilmacolm and 'The Hill House' in Helensburgh. In Europe, the originality of Mackintosh's style was quickly appreciated and in 1900 he was invited to participate at the 8th Vienna Secession.

In 1902 Mackintosh was invited to participate at the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative Art in Turin and later at exhibitions in Moscow and Berlin. Despite this success Mackintosh's work met with considerable indifference at home. Few private clients were sufficiently sympathetic to want his 'total design' of house and interior and he was incapable of compromise.

By 1914 Mackintosh had despaired of ever receiving true recognition in Glasgow and together with his wife Margaret Macdonald he moved, temporarily, to Walberswick on the Suffolk Coastline (in England), where he painted many fine flower studies in watercolour. In 1915 the Mackintoshes settled in London and for the next few years Mackintosh attempted to resume practice as an architect and designer. The designs he produced at this time for textiles, for the 'Dug-out' Tea Room in Glasgow and the dramatic interiors for 78 Derngate in Northampton, England show him working in a bold new style of decoration, using primary colours and geometric motifs.

In 1923 the Mackintoshes left London for the South of France, finally living in Port Vendres where Mackintosh gave up all thoughts of architecture and design and devoted himself entirely to painting landscapes. He died in London, of cancer, on 10 December 1928.

The majority of Mackintosh's design work, (including furniture and metalwork), architectural drawings, textile designs and watercolours are in the possession of three public collections - The Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow Museums, and the Hunterian Art Gallery at the University of Glasgow - although significant (individual) pieces can be found in museums across the UK and Europe, North America and Japan. However, some of Mackintosh's most important, symbolist watercolours from the early to mid-1890s are to be found in the collection of The Glasgow School of Art.

The Glasgow School of Art Archives and Collections hold a large number of items by Mackintosh, giving us one of the largest collections of his work held in public ownership. The collection is one of 50 Recognised Collections of National Significance to Scotland. We continue to investigate new routes of engagement for the collection. For example, our Mac(k)cessibility project in conjunction with GSA’s School of Simulation and Visualisation explores digital display and loans of our Mackintosh furniture. Find out more about the Mac(k)cessibility project here.

Includes:

• chairs
• tables
• benches
• ettles
• periodical and writing desks
• smokers' cabinets
• beds
• mirrors
• washstands
• bookcases
• cabinets
• linen presses
• dressers
• fenders
• hat, coat and umbrella stands
• a baptismal font, letter racks
• light-fittings
• clocks.

The library was destroyed by fire on 23 May 2014, though many metal and glass fragments from the lights were subsequently salvaged. Originally, and according to Mackintosh’s preparatory sketches, there were thought to be 53 individual lights in the library, each with punched holes in the inner reflectors which allowed light to pass through blue and purple glass. The central array was made up of 12 small canisters attached to the light frame on the ceiling, with eight medium pendants and five large pendants hanging below. There were an additional twelve medium canisters attached to the coffered ceiling both above and below the library balcony, making 24. Originally there were also four additional medium hanging pendants in each of the south and western window bays, though these four lights, and the medium canister in the librarians office, had all been removed before the fire in 2014, meaning there were 48 in the library. This complete light, constructed from multiple, original parts salvaged from the library was made by Rodney French of Lonsdale and Dutch, Edinburgh. This was the first light reconstructed as part of the restoration of the Library and provided valuable evidence as to how the original lights had been manufactured between 1907-09.

A series of facsimile armchairs were commissioned by GSA between 2003 and 2005 to replace the original armchairs (from 1904 and 1906) that remained in situ and in daily use within the Director's Room and Board Room of Glasgow School of Art.

A series of 12 facsimile armchairs were commissioned by GSA in 2005 to replace the original armchairs (from 1906) that remained in situ and in daily use within the Board Room of Glasgow School of Art.

A series of 12 facsimile armchairs were commissioned by GSA in 2005 to replace the original armchairs (from 1906) that remained in situ and in daily use within the Board Room of Glasgow School of Art.

A series of 12 facsimile armchairs were commissioned by GSA in 2005 to replace the original armchairs (from 1906) that remained in situ and in daily use within the Board Room of Glasgow School of Art.

A series of 12 facsimile armchairs were commissioned by GSA in 2005 to replace the original armchairs (from 1906) that remained in situ and in daily use within the Board Room of Glasgow School of Art.

A series of 12 facsimile armchairs were commissioned by GSA in 2005 to replace the original armchairs (from 1906) that remained in situ and in daily use within the Board Room of Glasgow School of Art.

A series of 12 facsimile armchairs were commissioned by GSA in 2005 to replace the original armchairs (from 1906) that remained in situ and in daily use within the Board Room of Glasgow School of Art.

A series of 12 facsimile armchairs were commissioned by GSA in 2005 to replace the original armchairs (from 1906) that remained in situ and in daily use within the Board Room of Glasgow School of Art.

A series of 12 facsimile armchairs were commissioned by GSA in 2005 to replace the original armchairs (from 1906) that remained in situ and in daily use within the Board Room of Glasgow School of Art.

A series of 12 facsimile armchairs were commissioned by GSA in 2005 to replace the original armchairs (from 1906) that remained in situ and in daily use within the Board Room of Glasgow School of Art.

A series of 12 facsimile armchairs were commissioned by GSA in 2005 to replace the original armchairs (from 1906) that remained in situ and in daily use within the Board Room of Glasgow School of Art.

A series of 12 facsimile armchairs were commissioned by GSA in 2005 to replace the original armchairs (from 1906) that remained in situ and in daily use within the Board Room of Glasgow School of Art.

A series of 6 facsimile armchairs were commissioned by GSA in 2003 to replace the original armchairs (from 1904) that remained in situ and in daily use within the Director's Room of Glasgow School of Art.

A series of 6 facsimile armchairs were commissioned by GSA in 2003 to replace the original armchairs (from 1904) that remained in situ and in daily use within the Director's Room of Glasgow School of Art.

A series of 6 facsimile armchairs were commissioned by GSA in 2003 to replace the original armchairs (from 1904) that remained in situ and in daily use within the Director's Room of Glasgow School of Art.

A series of 6 facsimile armchairs were commissioned by GSA in 2003 to replace the original armchairs (from 1904) that remained in situ and in daily use within the Director's Room of Glasgow School of Art.

A series of 6 facsimile armchairs were commissioned by GSA in 2003 to replace the orginal armchairs (from 1904) that remained in situ and in daily use within the Director's Room of Glasgow School of Art.

A series of 6 facsimile armchairs were commissioned by GSA in 2003 to replace the original armchairs (from 1904) that remained in situ and in daily use within the Director's Room of Glasgow School of Art.

This item was assessed for conservation in 2010 as part of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project (2006-2010). Designed for The Dug-Out, Willow Tea Rooms, Glasgow. One of a set of tea tables for the Dug Out. Such a table can be seen in Mackintosh's design for the Rest Room.

Designed for The Dug-Out, Willow Tea Rooms, Glasgow. Mackintosh's watercolour designs for the Dug-Out show a very similar settle (painted yellow) in the staircase vestibule and presumably this is where the piece was originally placed. It is a smaller variant of the Derngate hall settle. Whilst the property of the Grosvenor Restaurant, it was probably painted black, but when it was returned from exhibition in Helsinki (early in 1983) damage to the surface revealed yellow paint-work underneath. When the black paint was stripped it was clear that the entire settle had been painted yellow, and on the lower surfaces the original paint-work was intact, allowing accurate colour matching for repainting. In the winter of 1983-84 the settle was repainted and reupholstered to match the original design. This item was assessed for conversation in 2010 as part of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project (2006-2010), and then again in 2018 following the fire in the Mackintosh Building in June 2018.

This item was lost in the fire in The Mackintosh Building at The Glasgow School of Art on 23rd May 2014. This item was assessed for conservation in 2010 as part of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project (2006-2010). Designed for The Dug-Out, Willow Tea Rooms, Glasgow. Cube and bobbin legs are a traditional motif not used by Mackintosh before this date. Several of the pieces made for the Dug-Out, however, incorporate such traditional features, e.g. the round table with bobbin legs and the stepped ladder-backs of the chairs (Roger Billcliffe). Repaired, and badly scratched top resurfaced in 1985.

This item was lost in the fire in The Mackintosh Building at The Glasgow School of Art on 23rd May 2014. This item was assessed for conservation in 2010 as part of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project (2006-2010). Designed for The Dug-Out, Willow Tea Rooms, Glasgow. Mackintosh designed similar ladder-back chairs for the guest bedroom for Bassett-Lowke at 78 Derngate in Northampton. All chairs reupholstered 1985. Three repaired 1984-85.

This item was lost in the fire in The Mackintosh Building at The Glasgow School of Art on 23rd May 2014. This item was assessed for conservation in 2010 as part of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project (2006-2010). Designed for The Dug-Out, Willow Tea Rooms, Glasgow. Mackintosh designed similar ladder-back chairs for the guest bedroom for Bassett-Lowke at 78 Derngate in Northampton. All chairs reupholstered 1985. Three repaired 1984-85.

This item was lost in the fire in The Mackintosh Building at The Glasgow School of Art on 23rd May 2014. This item was assessed for conservation in 2010 as part of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project (2006-2010). Designed for The Dug-Out, Willow Tea Rooms, Glasgow. One of a set of tea tables for the Dug Out. Such a table can be seen in Mackintosh's design for the Rest Room.

This item was lost in the fire in The Mackintosh Building at The Glasgow School of Art on 23rd May 2014. This item was assessed for conservation in 2010 as part of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project (2006-2010). Designed for The Dug-Out, Willow Tea Rooms, Glasgow. Mackintosh designed similar ladder-back chairs for the guest bedroom for Bassett-Lowke at 78 Derngate in Northampton. All chairs reupholstered 1985. Three repaired 1984-85.

This item was lost in the fire in The Mackintosh Building at The Glasgow School of Art on 23rd May 2014. This item was assessed for conservation in 2010 as part of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project (2006-2010). Designed for The Dug-Out, Willow Tea Rooms, Glasgow. Mackintosh designed similar ladder-back chairs for the guest bedroom for Bassett-Lowke at 78 Derngate in Northampton. All chairs reupholstered 1985. Three repaired 1984-85.

This item was lost in the fire in The Mackintosh Building at The Glasgow School of Art on 23rd May 2014. This item was assessed for conservation in 2010 as part of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project (2006-2010). Designed for The Dug-Out, Willow Tea Rooms, Glasgow. Mackintosh designed similar ladder-back chairs for the guest bedroom for Bassett-Lowke at 78 Derngate in Northampton. All chairs reupholstered 1985. Three repaired 1984-85.

This item was lost in the fire in The Mackintosh Building at The Glasgow School of Art on 23rd May 2014. This item was assessed for conservation in 2010 as part of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project (2006-2010). Designed for the Dug-Out, Willow Tea Rooms, Glasgow. One of a set of tea tables for the Dug Out. Such a table can be seen in Mackintosh's design for the Rest Room.