Coffee spoons
Classification(s):
Metal
Date: c. 1951-1976
Designer: Arne Jacobsen (Denmark, 1902 - 1971)
Organisation: A.Michelsen (Danish)
Dimensions:
44 × 170 mm (4.4 × 17 cm)
Medium: Stainless steel
Object number: M129
DescriptionSet of 6 stainless steel coffee spoons with original box, designed by Arne Jacobsen for A. Michelsen in 1957. Manufactured in Denmark. The coffee spoons are part of the ‘660’ flatware cutlery range. The original box is printed card; it has a stylised line drawing of one of the coffee spoons.
One of the coffee spoons was accessioned and catalogued individually at an earlier date (CC013), therefore this box contains 5.
This box also contains 2 small flat utensils, however these are not back stamped with an association to Arne Jacobsen/A.Michelsen and therefore may not be original to the set.
The maker’s mark is impressed on the reverse “A.Michelsen Stainless Denmark”.
Printed to box “20236 kaffeske A. Michelsen by appointment to H.M the King of Denmark”.
“Kaffeske” is Danish for ‘coffee spoon’.
The futuristic, minimalist style of the '660' range meant it was selected for use on board the spacecraft in Stanley Kubrick's 1968 science-fiction film '2001: A Space Odyssey
The individual pieces of the ‘660’ flatware range are represented in the collection: coffee spoon (CC013), soup spoon (CC059), dessert spoon (CC060), salad knife (CC061), salad fork (CC062), table knife (CC063) and table fork (CC064).
One of the coffee spoons was accessioned and catalogued individually at an earlier date (CC013), therefore this box contains 5.
This box also contains 2 small flat utensils, however these are not back stamped with an association to Arne Jacobsen/A.Michelsen and therefore may not be original to the set.
The maker’s mark is impressed on the reverse “A.Michelsen Stainless Denmark”.
Printed to box “20236 kaffeske A. Michelsen by appointment to H.M the King of Denmark”.
“Kaffeske” is Danish for ‘coffee spoon’.
The futuristic, minimalist style of the '660' range meant it was selected for use on board the spacecraft in Stanley Kubrick's 1968 science-fiction film '2001: A Space Odyssey
The individual pieces of the ‘660’ flatware range are represented in the collection: coffee spoon (CC013), soup spoon (CC059), dessert spoon (CC060), salad knife (CC061), salad fork (CC062), table knife (CC063) and table fork (CC064).
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.
NotesArne Jacobsen is thought of as one of Denmark's most influential architects and designers. He was educated at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture in Copenhagen, and later became a professor at the school. Having designed private houses and winning architectural commissions, Jacobsen became increasingly interested in product design. Jacobsen’s Model 3107 - Series 7 Chair is one of the most popular chair designs of the 20th and 21st century.
