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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.

Designed as individual lights within the Library at Glasgow School of Art. Very similar in design to the thirteen lampshades which make up the central light fitting in the Library.

This item was lost in the fire in The Mackintosh Building at The Glasgow School of Art on 23rd May 2014. Designed as individual lights within the Library at Glasgow School of Art. Very similar in design to the thirteen lampshades which make up the central light fitting in the Library.

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 principal bedroom at Windyhill, Kilmacolm. Based upon the design for a bedroom in the Haus eines Kunstfreundes competition. The pierced motif is almost an exact repetition of that used on the Mains Street washstand.
This item was assessed for conservation in 2010 as part of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project (2006-2010).

Designed for the principal bedroom at Windyhill, Kilmacolm. A much simpler design than the cheval mirror used at 120 Mains Street. 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. Designed as individual lights within the Library at Glasgow School of Art. Very similar in design to the thirteen lampshades which make up the central light fitting in the Library.

An Art-Lover's house competition. Portfolio published 1902. In 1901 the Zeitschrift fur Innen-Dekoration of Darmstadt organised an international competition for the design of an Art Lover's House. The 1st prize was shared among 16 entrants, Baillie Scott recieved 2nd prize and 3rd prizes were also awarded. Mackintosh's entry was disqualified as his interior drawings were not finished in time for the competition deadline, but when they arrived he was awarded a special purchase prize of 600 marks by the publishers. The original drawings cannot now be traced, but in 1902 Alexander Koch published them as a portfolio in 'Meister Der Innenkunst' with an introduction by Herman Muthesius. A portfolio was presented by Mackintosh to the GSA and a 2nd set of prints, framed, is in the GSA collection. The only design for the bedroom, this elevation shows the furniture arranged along one wall, a pair of fixed wardrobes, a fireplace and a washstand in a recess. The uncompromising plainness of the furniture is relieved by stencilled panels. The deadline of 25 March 1901 for the competition suggests that this design is earlier than that for the main bedroom at Windyhill, where the same features were used, with minor differences in the stencilling.

Designed for 120 Mains Street, Glasgow and also for the Luncheon Room, Argyle Street Tea Rooms, Glasgow. Stylistically, the most advanced piece of furniture designed for Argyle Street and used by Mackintosh again in his own flat. The examples in the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the V&A in London were formerly in the GSA collection and donated by Douglas Percy Bliss, GSA director, in 1958. The horsehair and rush seats were reupholstered 1985-86. This item was assessed for conservation in 2010 as part of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project (2006-2010).

Designed for use in Mackintosh's own flat in Mains Street, Glasgow.
This item was assessed for conservation in 2010 as part of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project (2006-2010).

Designed as the order desk, at the Willow Tea Rooms, Glasgow. 'One of the most impressive and novel of Mackintosh's chairs, it stood in the centre of the ground floor saloons, isolated and defining the point at which the white Front Saloon became the dark Back Saloon. Designed six months before the curved screen at Hous'hill, it plays the same role in acting as a transparent division between two spaces which are actually part of the same room... The front of the seat also serves as a small locker or chest... The chest was provided for the supervisor who took orders from the waitresses and passed them to the kitchen by dropping coloured balls, coded to each dish on the menu, down a tube to the kitchen below.' (Roger Billcliffe). Reupholstered in brown horsehair 1984 (the settle was originally upholstered in a green and gold striped horsehair, matching the Willow armchairs).
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.

Designed for the Blue or Chinese Room at the Ingram Street Tea Rooms, Glasgow. The fretted back and side rails match the Chinese style motifs of the Blue Room (as called in the job books). Much of the woodwork in the Chinese Room was painted bright blue or red, but there is no trace of any finish having been applied to these chairs other than the ebonising which most of them still display. These chairs have always been associated with the Chinese Room and so must be identified with the entry for thirty-six in the job books (Roger Billcliffe). All the chairs rwere eupholstered in blue horsehair in 1985. The Ingram Street Tea Rooms were purchased by Glasgow Corporation in 1951 for £25,000 and were then rented out as various shops and warehouses.
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.

Designed for the Director's Room, Glasgow School of Art. Twelve chairs were made in 1904 for the GSA, but William Davidson acquired a further two, with six of MC/F/58 for use as dining chairs in the hall at Windyhill. Twelve chairs reupholstered in brown horsehair 1984. One chair on loan from Glasgow University, returned 1984. This item was assessed for conservation in 2010 as part of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project (2006-2010).

Designed for Director's Room, Glasgow School of Art. 'This large table may well have been designed for meetings of the Board of Governors, who rarely used the original Board Room which was eventually taken over as a studio. It was designed with two high backed armchairs and twelve low backed armchairs and was photographed in 1910 in the new Board Room which Mackintosh had provided for the Governors, and not in the Director's Room for which it was designed. The square is again the dominant motif in this group of designs. The table legs are square, but they are hollow, and square cut outs in them indicate the construction.' (Roger Billcliffe). This item was assessed for conservation in 2010 as part of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project (2006-2010).

This item was assessed for conservation in 2010 as part of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project (2006-2010).
Designed for the (new) Board Room, Glasgow School of Art.

Designed for original board room at Glasgow School of Art. The chairs were designed for the original Board Room in the East wing (now the Mackintosh Room). The Governors never used this room for meetings and it was initially used as a studio while space was short in the half-finished building. When the new Board Room was built in the second phase of the building, Mackintosh designed a more elaborate version of this chair for it, MC/F/61. Six chairs reupholstered in brown horsehair 1985, very similar to the original fabric found on one of the chairs. Two remaining chairs reupholstered in 1986. This item was assessed for conservation in 2010 as part of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project (2006-2010).

Designed for the Argyle Street Tea Rooms, Glasgow. One example appears in contemporary photographs of the Luncheon Room, but several others, possibly used in the ground floor apartments at Argyle Street, have survived. (Roger Billcliffe). The pierced motif in the side panels is the same as in the oval back-rail chair, MC/F/14. In a sketch the same chair but with a slightly taller back is used in a bedroom design (repro. Alison as principal bedroom, Westdel, Queen's Place, 1901). It is quite possible this chair was used in other commissions besides Argyle Street.
This item was assessed for conservation in 2010 as part of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project (2006-2010).

Designed for the hall at Windyhill, Kilmacolm. The benches were used in the hall and instead of chairs at the dining room table.
This item was assessed for conservation in 2010 as part of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project (2006-2010).

Designed for the board room, Glasgow School of Art. Basically, a compilation of three examples of MC/F/18 with the pierced motif repeated three times on each back rest. Reupholstered in brown horsehair 1984. This item was assessed for conservation in 2010 as part of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project (2006-2010).

Designed for entrance hall, 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 hall at Windyhill, Kilmacolm. Mackintosh designed Windyhill c1900 for William Davidson of Gladsmuir, Kilmacolm. Davidson had known Mackintosh for about five years and already owned several pieces of furniture by him, some specially designed for Gladsmuir. In 1901 Davidson was in correspondence with Mackintosh about new furniture for Windyhill, but there never seems to have been any intention to furnish the house completely with pieces designed by him. The new furniture was confined to the hall (which served as the family dining room for use at large gatherings), drawing room, playroom and main bedroom.This small table was used to extend the main dining table at large family gatherings.
This item was assessed for conservation in 2010 as part of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project (2006-2010).

Designed for use in Mackintosh's own flat in Mains Street, Glasgow. This piece does not appear in any of the contemporary photographs of the main bedroom at 120 Mains Street. As it was not painted white (like the rest of the main bedroom suite) it was probably intended for the spare bedroom, but it does not appear to have been designed as part of a suite.
This item was assessed for conservation in 2010 as part of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project (2006-2010).

Designed for 120 Mains Street, Glasgow. An exact replica of the cabinet made in 1899 and sold at the Vienna Secession exhibition in 1900, made to replace this for the Mackintoshs' own use. 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.

Designed for 120 Mains Street, Glasgow and also for the Luncheon Room, Argyle Street Tea Rooms, Glasgow. Stylistically, the most advanced piece of furniture designed for Argyle Street and used by Mackintosh again in his own flat. The examples in the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the V&A in London were formerly in the GSA collection and donated by Douglas Percy Bliss, GSA director, in 1958. The horsehair and rush seats were reupholstered 1985-86. This item was assessed for conservation in 2010 as part of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project (2006-2010).

Designed for the White Dining Room, Ingram Street Tea Rooms, Glasgow. A taller and more elegant version of MC/F/24, it shows the extravagant height to which Mackintosh was prepared to extend the backs of his chairs to achieve a variety of verticals within a room. The higher back makes it less rigid, and the two back splats were not originally attached to the seat rail (nor were these in MC/F/20 but at some time the chairs were strengthened by screwing them to the rear seat-rails). It is not known exactly where these chairs were used, though a contemporary photograph (Billcliffe 1900.J) shows one example in the Billiards Room. One white painted version (Billcliffe 1900.11) was in Mackintosh's own collection by 1900 but it is not certain whether it precedes the tea room chairs or is contemporary with them. Roger Billcliffe. Reupholstered in brown horsehair 1984. The Ingram Street Tea Rooms were purchased by Glasgow Corporation in 1951 for £25,000 and were then rented out as various shops and warehouses.
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.

One of a series of electric slave clocks located through the Glasgow School of Art and run from a central 'master' clock. This item was assessed for conservation in 2010 as part of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project (2006-2010). Installed into Studio 25 following restoration in 2013. Following the fire in the Mackintosh Building in May 2014 it was assessed and conserved in 2019.

It is likely that there was once a wooden clock in this room, Studio 42. However at some point in history the clock itself seems to have disappeared to be replaced by a stencilled clock dial painted directly onto the studio wall. An original (c.1910) dial mechanism complete with clock hands was then accommodated by means of a hole cut into the wall at the centre of the stencilled dial, where it was then linked up to the other clocks in the electrical circuit.

Designed for original board room at Glasgow School of Art. The chairs were designed for the original Board Room in the East wing (now the Mackintosh Room). The Governors never used this room for meetings and it was initially used as a studio while space was short in the half-finished building. When the new Board Room was built in the second phase of the building, Mackintosh designed a more elaborate version of this chair for it, MC/F/61. Six chairs reupholstered in brown horsehair 1985, very similar to the original fabric found on one of the chairs. Two remaining chairs reupholstered in 1986. This item was assessed for conservation in 2010 as part of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project (2006-2010).

Designed for original board room at Glasgow School of Art. The chairs were designed for the original Board Room in the East wing (now the Mackintosh Room). The Governors never used this room for meetings and it was initially used as a studio while space was short in the half-finished building. When the new Board Room was built in the second phase of the building, Mackintosh designed a more elaborate version of this chair for it, MC/F/61. Six chairs reupholstered in brown horsehair 1985, very similar to the original fabric found on one of the chairs. Two remaining chairs reupholstered in 1986. This item was assessed for conservation in 2010 as part of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project (2006-2010).

This item was assessed for conservation in 2010 as part of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project (2006-2010).
Designed for the schoolroom at Windyhill, Kilmacolm. A smaller, but otherwise identical version of the hall bench MC/F/30.

Designed for Argyle Street Tea Rooms, Glasgow. At least two examples of this settee appear in contemporary photographs, used along the walls in the Smoking and Billiards Rooms. 'A sturdy and quite heavy piece of furniture with slab like sides, upholstered in horsehair which became a favorite material with Mackintosh and used on several designs about this time.' (Roger Billcliffe). Reupholstered in brown horsehair 1984. This item was assessed for conservation in 2010 as part of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project (2006-2010).

This item was assessed for conservation in 2010 as part of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project (2006-2010).
Designed for the (new) Board Room, Glasgow School of Art. A more elaborate version of the chairs designed for the original Board Room in 1899 (MC/F/18).

Designed for 3 Lilybank Terrace, Glasgow. Together with a fireplace which has since disappeared, the fender was commissioned by Robert Wylie Hill.

This item was damaged in the Mackintosh Building fire in May 2014. Conservation was completed in 2020. Designed for the Ingram Street Tea Rooms, Glasgow. The Ingram Street Tea Rooms were purchased by Glasgow Corporation in 1951 for £25,000 and were then rented out as various shops and warehouses.