Wonderful colours and design.
We do not know who designed and made this dress but it is very much in the style of the Glasgow School of Art. There is a similar shape white dress in the GSA archives made by Glasgow born Grace Melvin (1892-1977). More information below.
The A line tussor silk dress with round neck and short flaring sleeves, a deep narrow V of blue/green tussore silk embroidered with a central three daisies on long stalks below a daisy garland, using satin stitch with French knot centres, the neck with small dots, the V edged with a narrow ivory silk inset and chain stitch, the sleeve cuffs similarly worked to the neck are, the mid green silk, the front and back with a curved seam from the top of the arm area to the hem, a pocket, the sides underarm with a a blue panel embroidered with two daisies and three dots, two blue and one ivory. the lower dress with a deep frill covered by pale green embroidered line, machine and hand sewn.
Length 29 in; 73 cm
An overall impression of freshness and attractive condition. Clearly the dress was worn with either side to the front.
Side one - A slight mark just below the V - 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 in; 4 x 4 cm. A feint water mark to the hem around 3 x 2 in; 7 x 5 cm.
Side Two - has another feint mark 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 in; 4 x 4 cm.
gsaarchives.net/catalogue/index.php/gm-5-v1 - Grace Melvin's child's dress.
https://aegis-education.com/jessie-w-newbery
I attach an illustration Entwurfe fur Kinderkleidchen von R Jessie Newbery, Glasgow.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fartisticdress.wordpress.com%2Fauthor%2Frobyneecalvert%2Fpage%2F2%2F&psig=AOvVaw2NorHp3ZfhEWfaXjvsgvZi&ust=1727947133943000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBEQjRxqFwoTCJDt0-2u74gDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE
collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1709195/das-eigenkleid-der-frau-book/
Irrelevant but interesting information about a pupil at the GSA. Grace attended as a day pupil at the Glasgow School of Art between 1907-1918 studing drawing and painting, design and attended life classes. More importanly for us she studied embroidery under Ann Macbeth (1875-1948). Grace was later to become a member of staff at GSA, between 1920/1-1928/9. During this time her roles included the teaching of lettering and illumination (Design and Decorative Art), 1920/21; lettering and illumination (Pictorial Design and methods of production), 1926/27.
Whilst in London, Melvin discovered the collection of ancient books and manuscripts, lettered and illuminated on vellum housed at the library of the British Museum. She received special permission to make copies of some of the works, and this art form became her passion for many years. At this time, whilst teaching at GSA, she was a scribe for the Corporation of Glasgow, and made many illuminated addresses for prominent people.
After seven years on the staff of the Glasgow School of Art, Melvin was given a two year leave of absence to travel to Vancouver, British Columbia to help organize the Design section of the new School of Art. She resigned from the Glasgow School and remained with the Vancouver School of Art until her retirement, as Head of the Department of Design, in 1952, after which time she became a full time painter. Grace Melvin's Basic Lettering for Art Students was published in 1927 in London and is still used. She also illustrated and wrote books on lettering and design for the Department of Education of British Columbia. Later, she was commissioned to make The Books of Remembrance for the Canadian Engineers, which can be seen in St. Pauls Cathedral, London. Melvin illustrated several books for Marius Barbeau, travelling with him to Alaska to get authentic information and an intimate view of the West Coast Native Americans and their legends. Grace Melvin died on 8th March 1977.*
Whilst in London, Melvin discovered the collection of ancient books and manuscripts, lettered and illuminated on vellum housed at the library of the British Museum. She received special permission to make copies of some of the works, and this art form became her passion for many years. At this time, whilst teaching at GSA, she was a scribe for the Corporation of Glasgow, and made many illuminated addresses for prominent people.
After seven years on the staff of the Glasgow School of Art, Melvin was given a two year leave of absence to travel to Vancouver, British Columbia to help organize the Design section of the new School of Art. She resigned from the Glasgow School and remained with the Vancouver School of Art until her retirement, as Head of the Department of Design, in 1952, after which time she became a full time painter. Grace Melvin's Basic Lettering for Art Students
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