Billfold

Classification(s):
Leather
Date: c.1951 - 1976
Organisation: Leathersmith
Dimensions:
21 × 131 mm (2.1 × 13.1 cm)
Medium: Leather
Object number: L38A
Place of Production:England
DescriptionLeathersmith billfold in original gold gift box. Made in England. The billfold case is covered in 'sunburn pigskin' leather. The billfold has a detachable business card holder. The cardholders are filled with Leathersmith information cards. The billfold has a secret pocket, identified by a “pull for the Leathersmith secret pocket” tab, which is still in situ. There is a Pigskin Leathersmith product card detailing the manufacture of the leather. Label to end of box reads “Billfold 3006 P Sunburn”. ILEA number on sticker to inside of billfold case.
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The Scheme was operational until 1976 when the collections were withdrawn from circulation.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.