Lot 235: * Chivers. Smyth (Dorothy Carleton, 1880-1933), A

* Chivers. Smyth (Dorothy Carleton, 1880-1933), A collection of three original illustrations for vellucent bindings by Cedric Chivers, together three watercolours with calligraphic text below, illustrating scenes from Mark Twain: ÒIn the budding grace of her twelve yearsÓ; ÒThe pilgrims broke offÓ; ÒThe difference between papa and mama is, mama loves morals and papa loves catsÓ, all initialled, each approx. 155 x 75 mm (6 x 3 ins), mounted, framed and glazed. Dorothy Carleton Smyth was born in Glasgow, the daughter of a jute manufacturer. She studied art in Manchester and then attended the Glasgow School of Art from 1895 until 1905. Her stained glass piece 'Tristan and Iseult' was exhibited at the International Exhibition in 1901, and in 1903 an anonymous female patron paid for Smyth to study in Europe. At first Smyth was best known as a portraitist, particularly for her sketches of theatre personalities. Later she specialised in theatre costume working in London, Paris and Sweden. She designed costumes for several of the Shakespearean Festivals held in Stratford-upon-Avon, beginning in 1906. Smyth was appointed Principal of Commercial Art at Glasgow School of Art in 1914, and in 1933 was appointed as the first woman director of the School of Art, but died before she could take up the post. Smyth was a particular favourite of Cedric Chivers, whom she worked for in his large Bath bindery. Chivers employed five women Òto design, illuminate, and colour vellum for book decoration, and to work on embossed leather... but the woman most frequently employed for this kind of work was probably Dorothy Carl[e]ton SmythÓ (Marianne Tidcombe, Women Bookbinders 1880-1920, p.86). (3)

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