Design Photographs

• Reference:GB 248 STOD/201/1/7
• Dates of Creation:1890s-1950s
• Physical Description:
  60 volumes, 46 bundles & 1 folio

• Scope and Content

  B&W and sepia photographs, some of which are badly faded, taken by Templeton's in-house photographer and pasted into volumes. Some photographs appear to be missing, possibly removed from volumes by designers who wished to use them for design inspiration. These images are predominantly of carpet designs, but there are also some loose pages of photographs of carpets. As a whole this is a very complete record of designs from the late 19th century to the earlier parts of the 20th century.

  STOD/201/1/7/1-9 are all related and contain B&W photographs of design sketches. They cover the period 1906-1929, with a number carrying specific titles. These volumes are all in poor condition, with some having been repaired at a previous date, and one with no cover at all. The majority of the photographs in these volumes carry numbers written in red ink, which can be cross referenced with STOD/201/1/8/1Templeton Register of "Designs Bought" - Sketches 1897-1915, although not all are numbered. Items STOD/201/1/7/3-7 provide a continuous run from 1906-1930, and include red ink numbers from 997-1845. A few of the images also have pattern numbers in the form of 2 or 3 letters (eg. 'LEC' or similar), and as such, can potentially be cross-referenced with two design studio record books titled 'Letter Books' (Catalogue reference: STOD/201/8/5/1-2), often revealing further information such as dates and designers. Items STOD/201/1/7/8-9 are to some extent a duplication of STOD/201/1/7/3-4, but while they are in a slightly better condition, they only cover the period from 1906-1910. They also contain different annotations handwritten on the pages.

  STOD/201/1/7/10 contains an apparently random selection of designs circa 1930s.

  Volumes STOD/201/1/7/11-14 can be dated to the 1930s and contain B&W photographs of design sketches, patterns and carpet samples. The condition of these volumes is poor to fair, one has a broken spine and STOD/ 201/1/7/12 has been repaired and appears to be missing a significant section. Volumes STOD/201/1/7/15-16 are partial duplicates of STOD/201/1/7/13-14, and are in better condition.

  STOD/201/1/7/17-18 also date from the 1930s and contain B&W photographs of design sketches arranged geographic area or design style.

  STOD/201/1/19-60 are 42 volumes that would appear to date from the turn of the 20th century, with a lot of Arts & Crafts and Art Nouveau designs featured. Four of which are now in such a condition that they more resemble bundles, but have been catalogued as volumes. The majority of these volumes are in a poor condition having possibly suffered heat damage at some point. They contain B&W and cyanotype photographs of design patterns each bearing a reference number (201-357 & 1795-9266, not inclusive), and they often illustrate both the Border and the Filling for a specific carpet design in one image. A good number of the photographs are badly faded.

  STOD/201/1/7/61 is a teaching resource, which as a whole it illustrates the global diversity of carpet design.

  STOD/201/1/62-64 are bundles of loose photographs, some of which were possible once pasted into the volumes above.