Design and Crafts Classes (Royal College of Art), 1926-1952

Start Date: 1926 (Circa)
End Date: 1952

Type: Art Classes

Description: The School of Design and Crafts was one of five schools within the Royal College of Art in 1926-1927 (the first available prospectus).

The School is described as providing 'practical workmanship in different classes', which were taken 'concurrently with the general drawing work of the studio'. The 'pottery workshop' offered classes in throwing, modelling, figure modelling etc. The 'metal workshop' provided instruction in silversmithing, chasing and repoussé work, metal engraving, etc. Classes were also offered in the 'stained glass workshop' and in wood-carving (as part of the craft classes).

Specialist tutors were employed to teach pottery, metalwork and enamelling, stained glass, writing and illumination, woodcarving, embroidery and bookbinding. Technical instructors taught classes in stained glass, silversmithing and engraving.

It was recommended that students of the School took additional classes in drawing from life, and 'where advisable' modelling and architecture.

Post Diploma Courses were also offered through the School (see Prospectus, 1926-1927, pp. 16-17).

The description of the course content remained largely unchanged from 1926 to 1941 when an abridged version was used until 1945. However, from 1930-1931 onwards the School was re-named the 'School of Design'. In 1946-1947 classes in pottery, metalwork, stained glass and woodcarving (among many others) were still offered by the School of Design.

In 1948-49 when the structure of the College changed and the number of Schools increased from five to ten, the School of Design and Crafts was dissolved into a number of separate bodies. From 1948 onwards independent Schools of ceramics, silversmithing and jewellery design, engineering and furniture design, fashion design, and two 'Departments' of stained glass and industrial glass are listed in the prospectuses.

The College was also divided into Faculties. Engineering and furniture design, silversmithing and jewellery, textiles, ceramics, and architecture, all came under the Faculty of Industrial Arts. Silversmithing and jewellery was also, however, listed under the Faculty of Fashion (see Prospectus, 1948-1949).

Citing this record

'Design and Crafts Classes (Royal College of Art), 1926-1952', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/event.php?id=msib4_1245938587, accessed 20 May 2022]