Friday, 27 February 2015

Do you know what this is?

MoDiP has the kind of collection that you may think you are very familiar with. We have objects which we all use every day, and some pieces which are more unusual.

By looking at this distorted image are you able to guess what the object is? What do you think it could be used for?


Post your answer in the comments below or to find the answer click here and you will be taken to the MoDiP catalogue.

Louise Dennis (Assistant Curator)

Monday, 23 February 2015

A different view #8

There are many ways to look at the objects in the MoDiP collection.  With this series of posts I want to highlight the interesting views of objects that we may ordinarily miss.  These include the underside of an object, the surface pattern, or traces of manufacturing processes.


Title: Salad spinner
Designer: Unknown
Manufacturer: Unknown
Object number: AIBDC : 000122
 



Louise Dennis (Assistant Curator)

Friday, 20 February 2015

Did you know? #16

Did you know that the Museum of Design in Plastics look after the collection of the Plastics Historical Society (PHS)?

You can find out more about the PHS by having a look at their website www.plastiquarian.com/

The collection comprises over 400 objects and can all be viewed on our website by searching the term PHSL ('Plastics Historical Society Loan').  They are with us for an initial period of 7 years and have featured in many of our exhibitions during the time they have been in our care.

Some of my favourite pieces from the PHS objects are:


This snake bracelet PHSL : 41 which dates from the 1920s and yet looks very modern, it could have been made yesterday.  Unfortunately, we do not know who made or designed it.

I like this Ekco Plastalux lamp PHSL : 153 from the 1940s, it would have such presence on a desk.  It was featured in our 10 Most Wanted project.

I love this little dinghy PHSL : 172.  It is so small and yet perfectly moulded.

I like these 1970s shoe covers PHSL : 321 because I can't imagine ever using them.  Welly boots and waterproof shoes are so acceptable and fashionable today.

This 1930s cocktail shaker PHSL : 341 is so bright and large (standing at 28cm tall) it must have been a joy to use.  It must have looked stunning in anyone's drinks cabinet or home bar.

Louise Dennis (Assistant Curator)

Monday, 16 February 2015

BXL photographic archive #0079

In 2010, MoDiP was donated a large archive of images relating to a single company. Bakelite Xylonite Ltd, also known as British Xylonite Ltd or BXL, was possibly one of the first British firms to successfully manufacture a plastics material in commercial quantities. The company was established in 1875 and after a long history went into liquidation in the late 2000s. The images we have in the collection are concentrated around the 1960s through to the 1980s and show us glimpses of the manufacturing process, products and the company’s employees during this time. We plan to share an image each week to give a flavour of the archive. If you want to see more you can view the whole collection on our website.

This week’s image shows some TR3 Juniors on a mini transporter.

To get a better view of the image and find out more have a look at it on our website http://www.modip.ac.uk/artefact/bxl--0558

We are still working on the documentation of the archive, some of the images we know more about than others. It would be fantastic if we could fill in some of the gaps in our knowledge, if you know anything about the company or specific images it would be good to hear from you.

Louise Dennis (Assistant Curator)

Friday, 13 February 2015

Guess the object

MoDiP has the kind of collection that you may think you are very familiar with. We have objects which we all use every day, and some pieces which are more unusual.

By looking at this distorted image are you able to guess what the object is? What do you think it could be used for?


Post your answer in the comments below or to find the answer click here and you will be taken to the MoDiP catalogue.

Louise Dennis (Assistant Curator)

Monday, 9 February 2015

A different view #7

There are many ways to look at the objects in the MoDiP collection.  With this series of posts I want to highlight the interesting views of objects that we may ordinarily miss.  These include the underside of an object, the surface pattern, or traces of manufacturing processes.


Title: Egg cups
Designer: Unknown
Manufacturer: Living Gear
Object number: AIBDC : 000864.1


Louise Dennis (Assistant Curator)

Friday, 6 February 2015

Did you know #15

Did you know that MoDiP does a lot of work with the Plastics Subject Specialist Network (PSSN)?

The PSSN is made up of a group of museums and individuals who have an interest in plastics, they may be curators, collectors or conservators.

The work has resulted in a number of resources that are available on the website. www.modip.ac.uk/resources/curators-collectors

These include a toolkit that museums can borrow to help staff learn to identify the materials from which objects in their care are made. www.modip.ac.uk/resources/toolkit

If you are from a museum and would like more information about the PSSN and the resources that it has generated please get in touch.

Louise Dennis (Assistant Curator)

Monday, 2 February 2015

BXL photographic archive #0078

In 2010, MoDiP was donated a large archive of images relating to a single company. Bakelite Xylonite Ltd, also known as British Xylonite Ltd or BXL, was possibly one of the first British firms to successfully manufacture a plastics material in commercial quantities. The company was established in 1875 and after a long history went into liquidation in the late 2000s. The images we have in the collection are concentrated around the 1960s through to the 1980s and show us glimpses of the manufacturing process, products and the company’s employees during this time. We plan to share an image each week to give a flavour of the archive. If you want to see more you can view the whole collection on our website.

This week’s image shows a mould for a side car.


To get a better view of the image and find out more have a look at it on our website http://www.modip.ac.uk/artefact/bxl--0548

We are still working on the documentation of the archive, some of the images we know more about than others. It would be fantastic if we could fill in some of the gaps in our knowledge, if you know anything about the company or specific images it would be good to hear from you.

Louise Dennis (Assistant Curator)