Mobile
Classification(s):
Wood
Date: 1968
Organisation: Flensted Mobiles
Designer: Christian Flensted
Dimensions:
487 × 91 mm (48.7 × 9.1 cm)
Medium: Wood, paper, wire, thread
Object number: W166D
See Also
Place of Production:Denmark
DescriptionViking mobile with 5 Viking ships, in original box. The mobile was designed by Christian Flensted in Denmark in 1968, and manufactured by Flensted Mobiles. The hull of each ship is carved from teak, the sails are made from paper and are full, as if sailing in the wind. Two of the sails have a blue stripe. The same mobile is still manufactured by Flensted Mobiles today. The original paper label attached to the mobile reads “Chr. Flensted Knarreborg Danmark”.
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The Scheme was operational until 1976 when the collections were withdrawn from circulation.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.
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.
NotesChristian Flenstead made his first mobile in 1953 to celebrate the christening of his daughter. The first mobile had 2 storks, mounted on 2 straws. The firm was founded a year later in 1954.