This week we are focusing on those incidental gems that litter the Stoddard Templeton Design Archive. They range from doodles on the backs of sketches to the stylistic colour bars the designers occasionally included on their designs.
There is also contextual information that helps us in the cataloguing process, either by giving us a date and/or the name of the designer, like the one below that was purchased from Jules Crön on Februrary 17th 1899, or the purpose of a specific design. These little contextual gems, like the note on the carpet design for the Queen’s Boudoir, can in themselves capture the design asthetic of a particular period, and undoubtedly add to the whole design
Finally designs might also carry information specific to the process of manufacture: perhaps the size and type of carpet the design is intended for, such as Axminster or Wilton; or more particular weaving instructions, like the carpet’s ground colour, its pattern number, the design range it belongs to, and whether this specific design is intended for a border or filling.
All these pieces of contextual information are being captured as we catalogue the design archive, and will enable researchers in the future to have a better understanding of both specific sketches and patterns, and the design collection as a whole.
For more information on the Stoddard-Templeton Collection click here, or visit the project blog.
Categories: Archive Services
Are you dancing?: The Scottish Ballet Archive 
Johnny Beattie: ‘The Clown Prince of Scotland’ 
Lou and Kitty: a friendship in letters 
The Arte of Faire Writing 
University of Glasgow Library Blog 
Leave a comment