Interwoven Connections: Examining the History of Scottish Carpet Design toInform future Learning, Teaching and Research

Introduction Stoddard Templeton denotes a group of Scottish carpet manufacturing companies, the formation of which can be traced to the mid-nineteenth century and the businesses James Templeton & Co and A F Stoddard & Co. Due to the growth, expansion, prominence and eventual decline of the Scottish carpet industry the history of these companies is intertwined. For 160 years, Stoddard Templeton were famed for producing carpets for a highly prestigious array of occasions and interiors. This paper describes and disseminates aspects of the project Interwoven Connections: The Stoddard Templeton Design Studio and Design Library, 1843-2005, which centred on the Stoddard Design Library, now held by the Glasgow School of Art (GSA). The Design Library was the in-house resource used by designers to inspire the creative process. The project aim was to examine the workings of the Stoddard Templeton design studio and in particular utilisation of the Design Library in the creative process. Findings and outcomes contribute to knowledge and understanding regarding the design history of Stoddard Templeton, explication of the carpet and therefore textile design process and designers' utilisation of archival resources about which there is limited discourse. The subsequent section of this paper provides relevant historical information surrounding Stoddard Templeton. Following on from this, the project methodology is articulated. An overview of the Design Library, its content and acquisition, is described. Project findings are discussed covering the workings of the Stoddard Templeton design studios, the carpet design process, Design Library utilisation and impact of digital technology. The project outcomes and outreach activities are explained and the paper concludes by indicating areas for further investigation to ensure that examining the past continues to influence the future. In 1839, James Templeton working with William Quigley, patented a chenille Axminster process which pioneered the industrialization of carpet manufacture. President of the United States and Mrs Lincoln soon turned to furnishing her new home to her own taste. It would seem that her ideas were expensive, for she was criticised for having been extravagant in spending State funds in the purchase of various articles, 2 including 'a new carpet of Glasgow manufacture ingeniously made all in one piece which had designs of fruit and flowers in vases, wreaths and bouquets.' The companies also produced for cruise liners including the Queen Mary (1912) and the Titanic. For the latter they created the original carpet for the ship in 1912 and then replicas for the …