Studio: international art (47.1909)

The National Competition of Schools of Art, igog

DESIGN FOR NECKLET AND PENDANT SET WITH STONES

BY ALICE M. CAMWELL (BIRMINGHAM, MARGARET STREET)

DESIGN FOR DECORATED HAND-
MIRROR

BY FLORENCE GOWER (REGENT
STREET POLYTECHNIC)

to elevate the standard of popular taste,
and already there are signs, faint enough
to be sure, of improvement in this
direction. And nothing can do more
to further this improvement than the
development of beauty in the objects
of ordinary use, the things we see and
handle and have about us in our daily
life. “ Have nothing in your houses
that you do not know to be useful or
believe to be beautiful ” was a maxim
that Morris impressed again and again
upon the members of the Birmingham
Society of Art and School of Design

when he delivered in their presence that admirable
address known as “ The Beauty of Life,” which
deserves to be read and studied by every artist.

Although in craftsmanship and design the
general level of the National Art Competition
Exhibition was as high as last year, or even higher,
it contained nothing so fine as the best examples
of 1908. There was, for instance, nothing among
the pottery to compare with the bowls and pots
in silver and ruby lustre that Mr. C. E. Cundall

insufficient attention is given to the production
of objects with qualities of simplicity and
beauty, independent of costly materials and
elaborate workmanship.

It is unfortunate, of course, that at the
present time the beauty of simple things does
not appeal to the majority, and that the market
for them is therefore limited, but it should be
the object of the artist-designer to endeavour

DESIGN FOR ENAMELLED SILVER HAIRCOMB
BY HERBERT SHIRLEY (BIRMINGHAM, VITTORIA STREET)

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