This drawer contains design sketches by George and John Scarratt Rigby, two brothers who both worked in the Arts and Crafts style. Sketches that carry a number written in red ink can potentially be cross referenced with STOD/201/1/8/1 'Templeton Register of Designs Brought - Sketches 1897-1915 (1925)'.
This description is part of the Design Archive which is divided into the 142 sections, each with its own separate description.
One the lesser known yet successful British decorative artists of the late Arts & Crafts era was George (G.R.) Rigby, who initially trained in the family business of shoemaking, then held art teaching posts before founding a freelance studio for textile and wallpaper design in Uttoxeter around 1887. Known for his skill in the design of large and very complex stencils, possibly not unrelated to his early mastery of leather cutting, Rigby was also accomplished in designing stencils with more delicate and flowing lines, characteristics not often associated with his craft. In praise of his design prowess, designer W. G. Sutherland Jr. a contemporary of Rigby, was quoted as saying, "There is one thing he is supreme in and that is the beauty of line he gets with his figure stencils. I would not even except Walter Crane, who has not that purity of line and grace in his figures that characterises Mr. Rigby’s work." Being a skilled designer lead to commissions from several wallpaper manufacturers, particularly the giant Lightbown, Aspinall & Co. His younger brother, John Scarratt Rigby, won greater fame as a designer, working in the Arts and Crafts style.
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Description compiled in line with the following international standards: International Council on Archives, ISAD(G) Second Edition, September 1999and National Council on Archives, Rules for the construction of personal, place and corporate names
Scotland is the location of all place names in the administrative/biographical history element, unless otherwise stated.
Description completed by Sam Maddra, Project Archivist (Stoddard-Templeton Design Archive) and Elva McLean, Project Volunteer, November 2010.
