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| Images from Stoddard Templeton source material now held by the GSA |
Over a dozen
former designers from world famous Stoddard Templeton carpet companies,
including former Design Director, Ronnie Wilkie, and Gerry Rafferty’s brother, Jim,
gathered at The Glasgow School of Art on Friday 8 November 2013 for the opening
of Interwoven Connections. The
exhibition, which opens to the public on Saturday 9 November, offers the public
a rare opportunity to see some of the rich archival material from the Stoddard
Templeton Design Studio and Library, which has been held by The Glasgow School
of Art since the sad demise of Stoddard International in 2005.
The Stoddard Templeton companies were Scotland’s
most prominent carpet manufacturing innovators. They designed and supplied many
iconic carpets including for the Titanic and Queen Mary liners, for events such
as the Royal Coronations and Festival of Britain and even for The White House. Through folios,
books, photographs, designs and samples, the exhibition, will give a flavour of
the Design Library’s contents, examine how the library was used, and throw a
light on the design process of the Stoddard Templeton Studio.
most prominent carpet manufacturing innovators. They designed and supplied many
iconic carpets including for the Titanic and Queen Mary liners, for events such
as the Royal Coronations and Festival of Britain and even for The White House. Through folios,
books, photographs, designs and samples, the exhibition, will give a flavour of
the Design Library’s contents, examine how the library was used, and throw a
light on the design process of the Stoddard Templeton Studio.
“The design studio
archive is an amazing resource,” says Helena
Britt, lecturer and design researcher at The Glasgow School of Art who has
curated the exhibition. “It includes
incredible books and colour plates from the 19th century through the
art nouveau and art deco periods to more recent works, as well as designs from
many different cultures and countries. Designers would use the library as a
source of inspiration when starting a new pattern or commission.”
archive is an amazing resource,” says Helena
Britt, lecturer and design researcher at The Glasgow School of Art who has
curated the exhibition. “It includes
incredible books and colour plates from the 19th century through the
art nouveau and art deco periods to more recent works, as well as designs from
many different cultures and countries. Designers would use the library as a
source of inspiration when starting a new pattern or commission.”
The collection was amassed over many years by the
directors of the company as they travelled to meet clients and oversee fittings
of their prestigious carpets. Much of it is rare and in some cases unique. “The library was hugely important for
designers,” says Ronnie Wilkie who started his career as a designer in
Templeton’s factory on Glasgow Green in the late 1960s rising to Design
Director in Stoddard International. During this time he undertook many
commissions including overseeing the carpets for Balmoral, where he was
privileged to meet the Queen, and also recreating the carpets Stoddard had
designed for the Titanic for James Cameron’s blockbuster movie .
directors of the company as they travelled to meet clients and oversee fittings
of their prestigious carpets. Much of it is rare and in some cases unique. “The library was hugely important for
designers,” says Ronnie Wilkie who started his career as a designer in
Templeton’s factory on Glasgow Green in the late 1960s rising to Design
Director in Stoddard International. During this time he undertook many
commissions including overseeing the carpets for Balmoral, where he was
privileged to meet the Queen, and also recreating the carpets Stoddard had
designed for the Titanic for James Cameron’s blockbuster movie .
“It is a unique collection and one that
companies across the world were desperate to buy when Stoddard International
closed,” he adds.
Fortunately, due to his efforts a consortium of Glasgow University, Glasgow
School of Art and Glasgow Museums was able to secure the archive for the city
ensuring that it is still available for students and carpet designers like
Ronnie to use.
companies across the world were desperate to buy when Stoddard International
closed,” he adds.
Fortunately, due to his efforts a consortium of Glasgow University, Glasgow
School of Art and Glasgow Museums was able to secure the archive for the city
ensuring that it is still available for students and carpet designers like
Ronnie to use.
Interwoven
Connections is divided into three sections. The first looks at
the Stoddard Templeton Design Library featuring
a selection of items from the archive. The second looks at the Design Studio. This
features the companies’ timeline and shows various studios and designers
through photographs, extracts from publications produced by the companies and
film footage from Scottish Screen Archive. The third section builds a picture
of the design process and includes Design Library items, sketches, carpet
pattern designs and a selection of carpet samples, finished carpets, books and
catalogues showing carpets.
Connections is divided into three sections. The first looks at
the Stoddard Templeton Design Library featuring
a selection of items from the archive. The second looks at the Design Studio. This
features the companies’ timeline and shows various studios and designers
through photographs, extracts from publications produced by the companies and
film footage from Scottish Screen Archive. The third section builds a picture
of the design process and includes Design Library items, sketches, carpet
pattern designs and a selection of carpet samples, finished carpets, books and
catalogues showing carpets.
Interwoven
Connections runs in the Mackintosh Museum at the GSA from 9 November
2013 – 11 January 2014 (closed 24 December -2 January inclusive)
Connections runs in the Mackintosh Museum at the GSA from 9 November
2013 – 11 January 2014 (closed 24 December -2 January inclusive)
Ends
Notes for Editors
Images
·
Design from
Benedictus Relais 1930: Quinze Planches Donnant Quarante-Deux Motifs
Décoratifs, by Edouard Benedictus (1930)
Design from
Benedictus Relais 1930: Quinze Planches Donnant Quarante-Deux Motifs
Décoratifs, by Edouard Benedictus (1930)
·
Design from
Ornamente der Hausindustrie Ungarn’s, by Karl von Pulszky (1878)
Design from
Ornamente der Hausindustrie Ungarn’s, by Karl von Pulszky (1878)
·
Detail of
design from Kunstgewerbliche Schmuckformen fur die Flache (c.1920)
Detail of
design from Kunstgewerbliche Schmuckformen fur die Flache (c.1920)
·
Plate from
Flore naturelle – plates 1-40, by Henry Lambert (c.1890
Plate from
Flore naturelle – plates 1-40, by Henry Lambert (c.1890
·
Design from
Decors et compositions du jour – 5e serie, by Studio d’Arts Decoratifs (c.1920)
Design from
Decors et compositions du jour – 5e serie, by Studio d’Arts Decoratifs (c.1920)
·
The
Stoddard Templeton Design Library is held by The Glasgow School of Art Library
along with a selection of Stoddard Templeton carpet samples. The Stoddard
Templeton Archive is held by University of Glasgow. Glasgow Museum holds the
Stoddard Templeton Heritage Carpet Collection.
The
Stoddard Templeton Design Library is held by The Glasgow School of Art Library
along with a selection of Stoddard Templeton carpet samples. The Stoddard
Templeton Archive is held by University of Glasgow. Glasgow Museum holds the
Stoddard Templeton Heritage Carpet Collection.
·
Helena
Britt is a lecturer in the Department of Fashion and Textiles at The Glasgow
School of Art (GSA). Interwoven Connections: The Stoddard Templeton Design
Studio and Design Library, 1843-2005 is a post-doctoral research project
looking at the utilisation of archival resources in the design process,
focusing specifically on the Stoddard Templeton Design Library which held at
GSA.
Helena
Britt is a lecturer in the Department of Fashion and Textiles at The Glasgow
School of Art (GSA). Interwoven Connections: The Stoddard Templeton Design
Studio and Design Library, 1843-2005 is a post-doctoral research project
looking at the utilisation of archival resources in the design process,
focusing specifically on the Stoddard Templeton Design Library which held at
GSA.
·
The
project, which is part of a post doctoral research project, is supported by The
Royal Society of Edinburgh.
The
project, which is part of a post doctoral research project, is supported by The
Royal Society of Edinburgh.