International studio (36.1908/1909(1909))

DEStGN FOR A FANEL IN THE CELTIC STYLE
BY MARGARET CRAWFORD
(7??j///^J
It is made possibie for a class to sketch objects in
various museums from the iantern screen, where
in former days the simplest outiine diagrams on the
biackboard had to suffice.

In connection with the illustrations given here-
with, some further notes on the design and handi-
crafts courses might be useful. The preliminary
design inciudes the study of simpie principles and
designs exemplifying these, together with nature
study and general drawing. A feature of the school
for some years has been the study of ancient Irish
art. The beautiful exam-
piesof pre-Christian bronzes,
and of the Christian manu-
scripts, crosses, and shrines,
form the basis of exercises
in the hiiing of simpie
spaces, such as those by
Francis H. Duncan, Edith
E. Wiison, and James Slator
(iilustrated). This study
of the early native art, with
its wealth of beauty in form
and symboiism, not only
supplies the basis for an
extended study of historic
appiied art, but it inHuences
sonie of the appiied designs
produced later, such as the
plaque with zodiac signs
by Margaret Crawford, the

book-cover by John CampbeM, and the em-
broidered cushion by Eleanor K'err, in which the
forms are designed and suppiemented to suit
modern needs.

The appiied art course includes practice in the
student's own special branch of design or a handi-
craft, or modeMing, together with the study in
weekiy iecture ciasses of the principies of design
and historic styies. Nature study is also continued
and general drawing as time wiii aiiow. For the
nature study live animais, birds, fishes, etc., are
used as weli as piants. NaturaMy attention is
given to the designing of damask cioths and of the
white embroidery so exquisitely worked in the
country districts of the north of Ireland and mar-
keted in Belfast. The table-centre by Wm. LiMey,
illustrated, with a corner enlarged, gives some idea
of the "sprigging," as it is called locally. Three
designs for damask cloths and two napkins are
illustrated. These are by Herbert R. LiMey, James
Hunniford, William J. Ferris and William Maitland,
and all show characteristic arrangements adapted
to the possibilities of the loom.

Some of the classes in handicrafts are still in the
initial stage, this branch of art-school work being
new to Ireland until recent years, but progress has
been made especially in enameMing and metalwork.
An enamelled panel with one of the Four Winds of
Erin, by Alice Brittain, is given on p. 326. In
lace-making Mary McDermott has made some
clever new adaptations of plant form to Irish crochet
work. MaryllA. Chambers has taken the materials


MEMORIAL TABLET MODELLED BY ELIZABETH A. BALL
(7?<?y%.i/ .37%%/r^3/ Vw/f/H/cJ
331