A pair of brass candlesticks designed by Frances Macdonald (1873-1921).
Frances Macdonald studied at Glasgow School of Art from about 1890 to 1894. With her sister Margaret, Herbert MacNair and Charles Rennie Mackintosh she was one of "The Four", a group of artists who developed their own unique artistic style. Their work was not universally admired and they earned the nickname the "Spook School" because of the weird female forms which they often depicted. Frances married MacNair in 1899 and moved with her new husband to Liverpool in 1900.
These candlesticks from 1896 show Macdonald's talent as a metal worker. She also worked as a watercolourist and embroiderer.
Reference: E.1946.5.e / E.1946.5.d
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Museums
Keywords:
artists, candlesticks, designers, embroiderers, Glasgow Style, metal workers, Spook School, The Four, watercolourists