Candlestick c. 1937

Arthur Wegg created this drawing of a Candlestick, using graphite and colored pencil, sometime in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. Technical drawings like this were a staple of the curriculum at art and design schools. In Britain, these institutions arose in response to industrialization, seeking to unite artistic creativity with manufacturing. By teaching students to accurately depict objects, institutions like the one Wegg attended sought to elevate the quality and design of British-made goods in a competitive global market. Looking closely, you can see the guidelines and measurements Wegg used to render the object precisely. The drawing, in its accuracy, elevates the candlestick, suggesting the cultural value attached to design and craftsmanship in an era of mass production. To understand this image better, researching the history of design education in Britain and the role of government in promoting industrial design would be invaluable. This drawing is a relic of a time when art was seen as a tool for economic and social progress.