The Glasgow School of Art painting smock (Version 4)
- NMC/1568/v4
- Part
- Mid 20th century
Since its opening in 1845, The Glasgow School of Art has been connected to textile design and production.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries the School aimed to train local designers to produce patterns for the textile industry in Glasgow and the West of Scotland. In the 1890s, the School's embroidery department was established and soon became famous for the Glasgow Style pieces its staff and students produced (examples of such work are housed in the School's collections).
Jessie Newbery (1864-1948), the first head of this department, encouraged her students to study historical designs and textiles in order to understand different embroidery techniques and to use these items as a source of inspiration for the development of new original work. This teaching ethos continued to be used in the 20th century during which time the School also developed courses in textile printing, weave and knit.
A large number of the items in the School's collection are related to The Needlework Development Scheme (1934-1962). This scheme, sponsored by J & P Coats of Paisley, collected examples of embroidery from a variety of geographical and historical areas and made them available for use by educational institutions and embroidery groups. The scheme aimed to encouraging greater interest in needlework, and to improve the standard of embroidery techniques and designs. When the scheme ended, its collections were disseminated to a variety of organisations. The Glasgow School of Art received 125 items dating from 1652-1961 and originating from Britain, Europe and Asia.
Amongst other items of note in the School's collections are weave sample books from Donald Brothers Ltd, Dundee and examples of work by Kath Whyte (1909-1996), GSA's former Head of Embroidery, and her students.
Related publications:
Liz Arthur, Textile Treasures at the Glasgow School of Art;
Liz Arthur, The Unbroken Thread: A Century of Embroidery at Glasgow School of Art;
Thomasina Beck, Glasgow Girls: Women in Art and Design 1880-1920;
Kathleen Whyte, Design in Embroidery;
R.Oddy. Embroideries from Needlework development scheme;
J. Taylor, The Glasgow School of Embroidery in 'The Studio';
Needlework development scheme, Contemporary Embroideries;
Margaret Swanson, Needlecraft in School;
Margaret Swanson; Needle craft for Older Girls;
Margaret Swanson, Needle craft and Psychology;
Margaret Swanson and Ann Macbeth, Educational Needle craft.
2499 results directly related Exclude narrower terms
The Glasgow School of Art painting smock (Version 4)
The Glasgow School of Art painting smock (Version 5)
The Glasgow School of Art scarf
The Glasgow School of Art scarf featuring the school emblem.
*Not available / given
The Glasgow School of Art scarf (Version 1)
The Glasgow School of Art tea towel
Printed tea towel of The Glasgow School of Art with an image of the Mackintosh building, in red on white background. Tea towel is made of two pieces of fabric sewn together and then printed.
Chalmers, Sylvia
The Glasgow School of Art tie made by Rowans, Glasgow and Birmingham.
*Not available / given
The Grace Melvin Textile Collection, Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, Scotland
14 textile items, thought to have been designed as part of Grace Melvin's diploma show c1918.
Melvin, Grace
"The Minster Church of St. Cuthberga, Wimborne Dorset" tea towel
"The Minster Church of St. Cuthberga, Wimborne Dorset" tea towel featuring image of church.
Chalmers, Sylvia
Tabard apron with thistle design in blue and green on white background, and blue border with small green thistles.
Chalmers, Sylvia
Apron with repeating design of thistles in red, tan, and white.
Chalmers, Sylvia
Brown placemat with green thistle motif.
Chalmers, Sylvia
Apron with repeating design of thistles in purple, grey, and white.
This item was damaged in the fire in GSA's Mackintosh Building on 23rd May 2014. Textile conservation was completed in 2019.
Chalmers, Sylvia
Original embroidery depicting three fishermen.
*Not available / given
"Tomorrow's Architects" t-shirt
Part of Records of the Glasgow 1999 Festival Co Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland
Yellow 'Tomorrow's Architects' t-shirts.
Not available / given
Green bag featuring a thistle design.
Five tote bags designed by Sylvia Chalmers, printed and produced by Tuar Fabrics in Scotland and made of 100% PVC coated cotton.
Chalmers, Sylvia
Part of Records and textiles of the Needlework Development Scheme
Turkish. Decorated at each end with formalised repeating tree design in green and yellow silks and metal threads, on fine cotton.
*Not available / given
Part of Records and textiles of the Needlework Development Scheme
Turkish. Handwoven striped silk towel. Border of repeating flower motifs at each end in silk and metal threads. Tasselled fringe.
*Not available / given
Part of Records and textiles of the Needlework Development Scheme
Part of Records and textiles of the Needlework Development Scheme
Part of Records and textiles of the Needlework Development Scheme
Part of Records and textiles of the Needlework Development Scheme
Part of Records and textiles of the Needlework Development Scheme
Part of Records and textiles of the Needlework Development Scheme
Trade show display, Brian Bolger at work
Part of Textiles and papers of Fraser Taylor, GSA student and designer with The Cloth
Three fabric hangings on display.
Taylor, Fraser
Trade show display, Brian Bolger at work
Part of Textiles and papers of Fraser Taylor, GSA student and designer with The Cloth
Brian Bolger looking to camera, working on wall samples.
Taylor, Fraser
Trade show display, Brian Bolger at work
Part of Textiles and papers of Fraser Taylor, GSA student and designer with The Cloth
Trade show sign 'The Cloth' and Japanese sign.
Taylor, Fraser
Part of Records of The Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, Scotland
This report details student Pamela Mitchell's experiences when she traveled around Europe for three months upon receiving a travelling scholarship at The Glasgow School of Art in 1959. Mitchell was a student at the School between 1955 and 1959 and studied Textiles. She received the Haldane Travelling Scholarship which was a cash sum of £75. She visted the cities of Copenhagen, Hamburg, Basle, Milan, Venice, Florence, Ravena, Porto Garibaldi, Ferrara, Verona and Paris. The report is coherantly laid out with details of the time spent in each of these cities.
Mitchell, Pamela
Part of Examples of Mackintosh Fabric
A fabric trimming from a cushion cover, embroidered before the First World War. The cover has pink roses and green foliage embroidered on authentic 'Mackintosh' mauve linen fabric.It is possible that both design and fabric were purchased from Brown and Beveridge, Bath Street, Glasgow.
*Not available / given
Part of Textiles and papers of Fraser Taylor, GSA student and designer with The Cloth
Trousers with elastic waist. Yellow, green and blue block design with leaf motif. Cotton fabric.
Taylor, Fraser
Part of Textiles and papers of Fraser Taylor, GSA student and designer with The Cloth
Part of Textiles and papers of Fraser Taylor, GSA student and designer with The Cloth
Part of Records and textiles of the Needlework Development Scheme
British formal flower motif outlined in chain-stitched metal thread, on linen. Blackwork fillings in silk in several patterns have become worn in places. The motif has been cut out of background and mounted on modern linen. About half the metal thread embroidery is modern restoration. Shows influence of formal Sanish design. Much of the outline is restoration and has been remounted. This work may have been carried out in J&P Coats studio. Another identical and two related motifs, donated to the NDS by John Jacoby are in the Embroiderers' Guild Collection (EG 206). Originally they may have been part of a cover for a long cushion.
*Not available / given
Tudor Flower Motif (Version 1)
Part of Records and textiles of the Needlework Development Scheme
Tudor Flower Motif (Version 2)
Part of Records and textiles of the Needlework Development Scheme
Tweed motoring cap (to match coat NMC/1780A) with wood engraving of two cats "Minnie and Jeannie" on fabric inserted behind clear lining.
Parker, Agnes Miller
Tweed motoring cap (Version 1)
Tweed motoring cap (Version 2)
Tweed motoring coat - ankle length and lined.
Parker, Agnes Miller
Tweed motoring coat (Version 1)
Tweed motoring coat (Version 2)
Tweed motoring coat (Version 3)
Tweed motoring coat (Version 4)
Tweed motoring coat (Version 5)
Tweed motoring coat (Version 6)
Tweed motoring coat (Version 7)