Gutta percha

When I joined MoDiP, this beautiful ornament captured my attention. It is currently on display in the About Plastics case in the museum.

Initially, I was confused. What was a wall ornament doing in MoDiP? I made it my mission to research this beautiful artefact.

I found out that it is a wall plaque of Venus and Cupid, made from compression moulded gutta percha and a chalk/flour mix, painted black. It dates to the late 19th century.

Gutta Percha is a natural plastic from the latex of several Malaysian trees which belong to the Sapotaceae family. The milky substance emitted is called Gutta Percha when it is evaporated and it is a hard material at room temperature, becoming soft at 100°c. It was first introduced into Europe in 1843 and was widely used as electrical insulation in underwater telegraph cables like this one from MoDiP's collection.

A few other objects in the museum that contain Gutta Percha include a lovely sample (bottom left), a pen tray (bottom middle) and a gaming piece (bottom right).

If you would like to come in to see these items or any other objects we have, contact us here.

Reanna Butcher
Museum Assistant