Not currently on display at the V&A

K.42.R

Handle
1963 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The Dryad Metal Works was set up in 1912 by Harry Peach (1874-1936) and William Pick. Harry Peach was originally a bookseller but had to give it up as an occupation due to poor eyesight. He was friends with Benjamin Fletcher who was the head of the Leicester School of Art from 1900. It was Benjamin Fletcher that introduced Harry Peach to the writings of William Morris and William Lethaby. 

The first Dryad venture was in cane furnishings but this led on to Dryad Metal Works in 1912. Harry Peach teamed up with the art metalworker, William Pick. From 1917 they produced quite simple but well made designs predominantly provided by John Sidney Reeve and other instructors at the Leicester School of Art. John Sidney Reeve was a silversmith who had formally worked for Charles Robert Ashbee and the Guild of Handicraft in Chipping Campden. 

Harry Peach went on to form Dryad Handicrafts and was instrumental in the formation of the Design and Industries Association.

The K42R handle was designed by Roger Peach and dates to 1963. He was the son of Harry Peach who founded DRYAD right back in 1907.

Roger Peach's importance as a designer grew throughout the 50's and 60's. However interest peaked in 1959 when his K42R door handle won a Design Centre Award. This was a landmark event in design, as it was the first time that any item in that field had been recognised in that way. It provided world wide publicity and acclaim for him and the company.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleK.42.R (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Aluminium, cast and polished.
Brief description
'K.42.R' lever door-handle, aluminium, designed by Roger Peach and produced by Dryad Metal works, Leicester, 1963. Winner of the Design Centre Award 1959.
Physical description
Lever door-handle, aluminium. The plate attached to the door concealed by a circular cover, the handle moulded to accommodate the hand.
Dimensions
  • Handle length: 11.4cm (Note: Dimensions taken from the register and converted to cm. In register height 4 1/2 inches.)
  • Base depth: 5.4cm
Dimensions taken from the register and converted to cm. In register depth 2 1/8 inches.
Style
Production typeMass produced
Credit line
Gift of the manufacturer.
Object history
Historical significance: Winner of a CoID Design of the Year award, 1959.
Summary
The Dryad Metal Works was set up in 1912 by Harry Peach (1874-1936) and William Pick. Harry Peach was originally a bookseller but had to give it up as an occupation due to poor eyesight. He was friends with Benjamin Fletcher who was the head of the Leicester School of Art from 1900. It was Benjamin Fletcher that introduced Harry Peach to the writings of William Morris and William Lethaby. 

The first Dryad venture was in cane furnishings but this led on to Dryad Metal Works in 1912. Harry Peach teamed up with the art metalworker, William Pick. From 1917 they produced quite simple but well made designs predominantly provided by John Sidney Reeve and other instructors at the Leicester School of Art. John Sidney Reeve was a silversmith who had formally worked for Charles Robert Ashbee and the Guild of Handicraft in Chipping Campden. 

Harry Peach went on to form Dryad Handicrafts and was instrumental in the formation of the Design and Industries Association.

The K42R handle was designed by Roger Peach and dates to 1963. He was the son of Harry Peach who founded DRYAD right back in 1907.

Roger Peach's importance as a designer grew throughout the 50's and 60's. However interest peaked in 1959 when his K42R door handle won a Design Centre Award. This was a landmark event in design, as it was the first time that any item in that field had been recognised in that way. It provided world wide publicity and acclaim for him and the company.
Collection
Accession number
CIRC.411-1963

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Record createdApril 26, 2011
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