This item was severely damaged in the fire in The Mackintosh Building at The Glasgow School of Art on 15th June 2018. Some fragments have been salvaged. The bell survives as it was not in the building at the time of the fire.
The symbols which form the Glasgow coat of arms all refer to miracles performed by St. Mungo, the patron saint of the city who is normally represented with these emblems on the coat of arms. They first appeared on the seals of bishops of Glasgow, the fish on the seal of William Wishart in 1270, the bird on the seal of Robert Wishart in 1271. They were used together for the first time on the seal of the Chapter of Glasgow in 1488. The salmon with the ring in its mouth refers to the story of the local Queen who gave her ring to a knight she was in love with, the jealous King stole the ring from the knight while he was asleep and then demanded it back from the Queen, having thrown it into the Clyde. In desperation she prayed to St. Mungo who told his followers to cast their fishing nets in the river and bring him the first fish that they caught, a salmon with the Queen's ring in its mouth. The tree represents the green hazel twig which Mungo restored to life after his companions had killed it. The bell represents the service bell used in Mungo's church and still in Glasgow until c1700. Mackintosh's tree is highly abstract in its Art Nouveau 'whiplash' spirals untypical of his work. The bird is a modern replacement of the stolen original.
Large circular decorative design piece featuring various repetitive marks, shapes and a floral design. Painted in red, blue, pink, green and yellow on a background of brown watercolour. The back of the design reads ‘Jane S. Wilson, 18/6/1912’ in pencil, and ‘GSA 1930-34’ potentially added later in black ink.
Wooden display case of decorative leatherwork by P. Wylie Davidson showing examples of materials and techniques. Back of case has GSA label "Leatherwork. 'B', 19.1.58". Back of case also has list of "educational notes". Due to information in archival documentation, display case can be dated pre-1943.
Display case showing techniques of enamelling, step by step examples, and materials used. Due to information in archival documentation, display case can be dated pre-1943. This item was damaged in the fire in GSA's Mackintosh Building on 23rd May 2014 and was conserved in 2018.
Ceramic blank decorated with pink image of north-west façade of The Glasgow School of Art. "Wedgwood of Etruria & Barlaston - A - Made in England" stamped on verso.
Large handmade, ring-bound book titled ‘History of Ornament’. Contains a definition of ornamentation followed by a history of ornamentation and information about different historic types and styles of ornamentation, accompanied by hand-illustrated examples in pencil, black and coloured ink and paint. The cover is signed ‘Jane S. Wilson 18/6/1912’. Likely related to a course on the History of Ornament taught as a component of the second-year General Course.
Hand-bound book titled ‘Notes on the History of Illumination’ signed Jean S Wilson. Details the history of book illustration, ornamentation and decoration across different eras, national and local styles. Likely related to a course on the History of Illumination taught as a component of the Design diploma.
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 incomplete light, was one of the largest single pieces salvaged from the floor of the library and the decision has been taken not to try and restore it but rather to keep it in its current condition as a visual record of the tragedy.
Large red glazed ceramic vase with red marking on bottom "GSA 581". Due to information in a 1958 inventory, vase can be dated pre-1958. It may be a student piece or could have been bought and used as a teaching aid.
Wooden display case of leatherwork by P. Wylie Davidson showing examples of techniques. Back of case has GSA label "Leatherwork. 'C', 19.1.58". Due to information in archival documentation, display case can be dated pre-1943.
Framed display of navy and green embroidery with beading, with engraved title "Samples and Examples by Anne Knox Arthur, The Glasgow School of Art". Includes label "Embroidery A_Navy and Green" and instruction on back of frame. Due to information in archival documentation, display case can be dated pre-1943.
Framed display of pink and black embroidery with beading, with engraved title "Samples and Examples by Anne Knox Arthur, The Glasgow School of Art". Includes label "Embroidery C_Black and Pink" and instruction on back of frame. Due to information in archival documentation, display case can be dated pre-1943.
Slightly curved fragment with blue glaze and dark green hand-painted design and bands on recto. Blue glaze with dark green hand-painted Arabic writing and a green band on verso.
Rim fragment with cream glaze and blue, turquoise, red, and dark brown hand-painted patterns on recto. '15 SAVEH' and '15' handwritten on verso. Saveh is a city in Iran.
Rim fragment with cream glaze and dark blue, red, turquoise, and gold hand-painted pattern on recto. Cream glaze with hand-painted red band and black Arabic inscription on verso.
Fragment with cream glaze and light yellow/gold hand-painted patterns and figures riding horses on recto. Cream glaze with brown hand-painted designs on verso.
Rim fragment from dish or plate. Hand-painted black Arabic writing on recto. 'GOMBAZ KAOUE near Persepolis' handwritten on verso. Persepolis is a city in Iran.
Part of group of 31 glazed and gilded pottery fragments from Persia/Egypt/Syria. Includes imagery of ornamental designs, figures, animals, and Arabic/Cufic lettering.
Rim fragment with cream glaze and yellow/gold hand-painted design on recto. Gold hand-painted patterns with figure on verso. Possibly small handwritten letters on an edge.
Rim fragment from dish or plate. Cream glaze with yellow/gold hand-painted pattern with crown on recto. Small area of cream glaze and red/brown section of hand-painted band on verso.
Fragment from what might be a tile. Hand-painted flower and petal shapes in blue, black, yellow, and turquoise paint. '85' and 'SHAH ISF' handwritten on verso. Shah (Persian) is a title given to the emperors/kings and lords of Iran.
Rim fragment with cream, blue, and black paint with hand-painted band on recto. Hand-painted blue and black bands on verso with metallic/mineral shine.
Fragment of dish or plate. Cream glaze with dark blue, turquoise, black, red, hand-painted figures and animal on recto with some gold leaf. Cream glaze with turquoise, blue, and red hand-painted figures on verso with some gold leaf. One large crack down the centre.
Rim fragment with cream glaze and blue and black hand-painted band on recto. Cream glaze with hand-painted black band with what might be Arabic writing on verso.
One of thirty-one different pottery fragments from Persia/Egypt/Syria. Likely brought to the Glasgow School of Art to be used as teaching aids.
Print on photographic paper containing two images of student work. Left: close-up of sample of embroidered cloth depicting a woman bent to water a plant in blue, green and cream thread, bordered with various decorative marks, shapes and images in multicolour. ‘1932’ and ‘JEAN WILSON’ are embroidered above and below the image in lilac thread. Right: image of a page of illuminated poetry (by Janet Begbie) hand-written in black ink and bordered by coloured ink illustrations relating to the poem’s themes of adventure, youth and travel at sea, in blue, green and red, as well as a decorative border in gold, blue, red and black.
Printed page featuring three scanned black and white photographs. Top left depicts five women, likely GSA students, posed and smiling on a set of stairs; top right depicts two women wearing artists smocks stood next to a plaster bust; bottom right depicts fifteen women, likely students, and one man, likely their teacher, posed on the same stairs. The page is captioned ‘Diploma June 12th 1934 in Design & Decorative Art GSC’.
A sketchbook of notes and artworks by Mary Ramsay produced between 1916-1917 during her second year at The Glasgow School of Art. This item consists of portraits and life drawings, interior illustration, lettering design for A Midsummer Night's Dream, religious illustrations, book cover designs for The Language of Flowers, sketches of ceramics, and a list of reference books about art and design. These artworks are primarily in pencil, with some using ink and paint. Four pages from this sketchbook are loose from the spine.
A sketchbook of notes and artworks by Mary Ramsay. This item does not include an official date, but is presumed to be from 1918, when Ramsay was still at The Glasgow School of Art, due to dates included in some illustrations. This sketchbook includes floral illustrations, religious illustrations, greeting card designs, portraits and life drawings, and some notes. There is one loose drawing included in this sketchbook. Most artworks are in pencil, with a few additional pieces in ink or paint on paper.
A sketchbook of notes and artworks by Mary Ramsay produced during her first year at The Glasgow School of Art, around 1914-1915. This item consists of portraits and life drawings, children's illustrations, lettering, costume designs, studies of ceramic samples, floral patterns, a list of reference books about art and design, and a Little Willie rhyme. Most artworks are in pencil, while some are in ink or paint on paper. Some illustrations have been pasted in from other sources. A number of loose ephemera items are also included in the sketchbook, including postage stamps and a newspaper advert for paint tubes.
A sketchbook of notes and artworks by Mary Ramsay believed to have been produced during her second year at The Glasgow School of Art, around 1915-1916. This item consists of portraits and life drawings, children's illustrations, floral patterns, religious illustrations, and sketches of her lessons. It also includes transcriptions from two poems, Christina Rossetti's 'Goblin Market', and William Cowper's 'The Task', alongside notes listing reference books about art and design.
Most artworks are in pencil, while some are in ink or paint on paper. A number of loose drawings are also included in the sketchbook.
