Cutlery set

Classification(s):
Metal
Date: c.1951 - 1976
Dimensions:
235 × 65 mm (23.5 × 6.5 cm)
Medium: Stainless steel and leather
Object number: M232F
DescriptionStainless steel cutlery set by Amboss Neuzeug, made in Austria. The set is designed for use when travelling or during outdoor activities. The set comprises knife, fork, spoon and bottle opener. All the flatware pieces are attached together and fan outwards. The set comes in a leather pouch with a Ritsch zipper and metal D buckle at one end. The manufacturers mark is incised on the back of the knife blade “Amboss Neuzeug stainless made in Austria”. Incised on the back of the spoon handle are the words “R&S Rostfrei”. Rostfrei translates from German as ‘rustproof’.
ProvenanceThis object was originally acquired for the Inner London Education Authority’s (ILEA) ‘Circulating Design Scheme’ collection.

The collection was instigated by the London Country Council (later the Greater London Council) and the Council of Industrial Design (COID). The collection’s original purpose was concerned with the teaching and dissemination of modern, ‘good design’.

The collection was established in 1951/52 as the ‘Experiment in Design Appreciation’, later renamed the ‘Circulating Design Scheme’.

The Circulating Design Scheme lent boxed showcases to London schools. The showcases contained handling objects, material samples and interpretation on a specific subject.

COID withdrew its involvement in the Scheme in 1957. After which time, it was managed exclusively by the London County Council from 1957-1963.

After the administrative restructuring of London authorities, the Scheme was jointly managed by the Greater London Council and the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) from 1963 – 1976.

The Scheme was operational until 1976 when the collections were withdrawn from circulation. ILEA was abolished in the late 1980s and the collection was donated to Camberwell College of Arts in 1989/90.

ILEA was responsible for secondary and tertiary education in the inner London boroughs, this included Camberwell.