Archive, collection of Isobel Anderson Stuart, later Isobel Craig (nee Dunlop, 1906-1997), art/design student, designer, embroiderer and assistant to interior designer and retailer, Marion Hall Best, cotton textile, paper, linoleum and wood, Sydney/ Australia, London/United Kingdom, 1940-1980.
A small design archive relating in particular to women and design in Sydney in the late 1940s and to designer Isobel Anderson Stuart and interior design retailer, Marion Hall Best. Related to the archive is a Marimekko textile length by Japanese designer, Katsuji Wakisaka that was sold through Marion Hall Best's interior decorating shop in Woollahra, and a blouse designed, printed and made by Isobel Anderson Stuart in the late 1940s. The archival collection documents the Double Bay Studio, a art and design school run by Dora Sweetappleand other teachers including Thea Proctor and objects relate to the Museum's 'Rowe Street social history/design project' as the designer worked in Marion Hall Best's Rowe Street shop during the 1940s.

Isobel Anderson Stuart, later Isobel Craig (nee Dunlop), born Inverell NSW, (father was a farmer), was an art and design student, a designer and an embroiderer (also member of the Embroiderer's Guild). She was also one of the first assistants, and a close friend, of well known Australian interior designer and retailer, Marion Hall Best in her Rowe Street outlet. Isobel worked there with Dora Sweetapple who later taught at the Double Bay Studio, an experimental studio established by six Sydney women artists in 1945 in a converted billiard-room in the Double Bay home of Mrs Hunter White (next to Redleaf Pool?), under the auspices of the Society of Arts and Crafts, NSW. Initially Ann Gilmore Rees was the instructor. After she returned to the UK in 1948, Dora Sweetapple became head instructor teaching practical ways of using colour and design in the home as well as fabric printing and interior decorating. Muriel Medworth taught embroidery, Thea Proctor taught drawing, composition and an advanced design class, Amie Kingston taught stage design and [Eric Roberts taught lettering]. The studio mounted the Colour and Design exhibition in the David Jones Art Gallery in 1949. Isobel Anderson Stuart wrote an article about the School following the exhibition in the journal, Jaras.

Anne-Marie Van de Ven, Curator 2002
References: 'They Teach art, Double Bay Studio', Isabel Anderson Stuart, Jaras
Journal of the Arts, 1945; 'Art for housewives', Tatlock Miller, Colour
Magazine, c1949, undated newspaper clipping); interview with Jessie Bowie
Wilson (Isobel's step-daughter) and Susie Pearson, Jessie Bowie-Wilson's
daughter with Grace Cochrane and Anne-Marie Van de Ven, September 2002.

Isobel Anderson Stuart, later Isobel Craig (nee Dunlop), born Inverell NSW 21 May 1906, father was a farmer, married Anders Anderson Stuart [1940s?], divorced, married William Craig 12 April 1954, (Jessie Craig later Jessie Bowie- Wilson, the donor, born March 1921), widowed 1990s, died 21 February 1997). Art and design student, designer, embroider and member of the Embroiderer's Guild. Isobel was one of the first assistants, and close friend of interior designer and retailer, Marion Hall Best. She worked in Best's Rowe Street store during 1940s with Dora Sweetapple. Isobel studied at the Double Bay Studio, an experimental studio established in 1945 in Double Bay under the auspices of the Society of Arts and Crafts, NSW. The studio mounted the Colour and Design exhibition in the David Jones Art Gallery in 1949. Isobel Anderson Stuart wrote an article about the School following the exhibition in the journal, Jaras.
References: 'They Teach art, Double Bay Studio', Isabel Anderson Stuart, Jaras Journal of the Arts, 1945; 'Art for housewives', Tatlock Miller, Colour Magazine, c1949, undated newspaper clipping); interview with Jessie Bowie Wilson (Isobel's step-daughter) and Susie Pearson, Jessie Bowie-Wilson's daughter, with Powerhouse Museum curators, Grace Cochrane and Anne-Marie Van de Ven, September 2002.

Collection presented to the Museum by the artist's step-daughter.

Isobel Anderson Stuart (1906-1997) was born Isobel Dunlop at Inverell, New South Wales on 21 May 1906. She was a designer and embroiderer and close friend and assistant to interior designer and retailer Marion Hall Best.

Isobel worked in Best's Rowe Street store during 1940s with Dora Sweetapple who later taught at the Double Bay Studio, an experimental studio established by six Sydney women artists in 1945 in a converted billiard-room in the Double Bay home of Mrs Hunter White (next to Redleaf Pool?), under the auspices of the Society of Arts and Crafts, NSW. Initially Ann Gillmore Rees was the instructor. After she returned to the UK in 1948, Dora Sweetapple became head instructor teaching practical ways of using colour and design in the home as well as fabric printing and interior decorating. Muriel Medworth taught drawing and embroidery, Thea Proctor taught drawing, composition and an advanced design class, Amie Kingston taught drawing and stage design and Eric Roberts taught lettering. Works by the studio's pupils, including Isobel, were displayed at the "Colour and Design" exhibition in the David Jones Art Gallery in 1949. Isobel wrote an article about the School following the exhibition in the journal, Jaras.

Isobel married Anders Anderson Stuart, 1940s? They were later divorced. Her second husband was William Craig whom she married on 12 April 1954. Isobel died 21 February 1997.


References:
Curator's notes on Object File (Anne-Marie Van de Ven, Curator 2002)
Stuart, Isabel Anderson. 'They Teach art, Double Bay Studio', Jaras: journal of the arts, Spring 1945, p.32
Miller, Tatlock Harry. 'Art for housewives', Colour Sunday Sun Magazine, 27 March 1949, pp.8-9

Archive, design, paper/linoleum/wood, Isobel Anderson Stuart, Sydney, New South Wales, 1941-1984

This is a small archive of Isobel Anderson Stuart (1906-1997), designer and embroiderer and assistant to interior designer and retailer Marion Hall Best. It includes sketchbooks, 1940s, design sketches, 1940s, linocuts, 1940s, exhibition invitations and catalogues, 1941-49, letters received from Marion Hall Best, 1960-61, printed material, 1941-84, photographs, 1954 and 1990s and art student's source materials, 1894-1923.

Made: Stuart, Isobel Anderson; Sydney; 1941 - 1984

2003/88/1

1941 - 1984