Ivory ticket, Architecture School., 1891

Unknown maker

RA Collection: Art

This ivory disc is the ticket or 'bone', as they were often called, admitting T.G. Charlton to the Royal Academy's Architectural School in 1891. These tickets were given to RA Schools students from the early 19th century onwards. The Rules of the RA Schools stated that:

'When a Student is admitted, he shall receive an Ivory Ticket, marked with his name and the date of his admission.

When he attends the Schools, the Lectures, or the Exhibition he shall produce his Ticket to the Doorkeeper, or to any of the Officers of the Academy who may require it, to identify him as a Student.'

Ivory tickets were introduced after a committee set up in 1799-1800 to look into 'confusion and disorder' in the Schools. They were also used as season tickets in other venues including theatres.