Four cups in a bag
Classification(s):
Plastic
Date: c. 1967-1968
Designer: David Harman Powell (British, born 1931)
Organisation: Ekco Plastics
Dimensions:
190 × 140 mm (19 × 14 cm)
Medium: Styrene acrylonitrile co-polymer
Object number: CC010
See Also
Title:Nova
Description4 plastic cups with handles. The cups have been stacked together, bagged and tied with a wire bag tie. The top halves of each cup are grey, the lower sections of each cup and their interiors are off-white. Designed by David Harman Powell for Ekco Plastics in 1967-68, the cups are part of the 'Nova' tableware range. The design used a bi-injection, two-colour moulding system to produce plastic which was resistant to staining and had a high thermal resistance.
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The Scheme was operational until 1976 when the collections were withdrawn from circulation.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.
NotesIn 1968 the 'Nova' range won the Duke of Edinburgh's Prize for Elegant Design. The modern, stackable design was space-saving for the 1960s kitchen, at a time when plastic was regarded as a deliberate consumer choice, as opposed to a cheap alternative.
The 'Nova' set comprises matching saucers and milk jugs - these are also represented in the collection. The individual tableware elements can also be stacked into one another.
David Harman Powell trained at the Southend School of Art from 1946-49. Powell worked in the design office of Ekco Ltd, moving to British Industrial Plastics in 1953 and later returned to Ekco Ltd as Chief Designer of Plastics in 1960. In 1970 Powell was awarded the Council of Industrial Design Award for Ekco Nova flatware. Powell also became the first Tutor in Plastics at the Royal College of Art.
ILEA acquired this object from The Primavera Gallery.
The 'Nova' set comprises matching saucers and milk jugs - these are also represented in the collection. The individual tableware elements can also be stacked into one another.
David Harman Powell trained at the Southend School of Art from 1946-49. Powell worked in the design office of Ekco Ltd, moving to British Industrial Plastics in 1953 and later returned to Ekco Ltd as Chief Designer of Plastics in 1960. In 1970 Powell was awarded the Council of Industrial Design Award for Ekco Nova flatware. Powell also became the first Tutor in Plastics at the Royal College of Art.
ILEA acquired this object from The Primavera Gallery.
