We don’t have an image of this object online yet. V&A Images may have a photograph that we can’t show online, but it may be possible to supply one to you. Email us at vaimages@vam.ac.uk for guidance about fees and timescales, quoting the accession number: W.60-1983
Find out about our images

Not currently on display at the V&A

Smoker's Friend

Smoker's Compendium
1925 - 1929 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
United Kingdom (manufactured)

Semi-circular 'smoker's friend' compendium of brown Bakelite, with green and red overall mottling. The lid and the tray are decorated around the edge with a scrolling leaf pattern, bordering a frosted ground. In the centre of each is a circular feature. The tray revolves through 180° to reveal compartments for tobacco, matches and ash. The raised peg in the matchbox compartment will open the box as it is pushed in.


Object details

Categories
Household Objects
Entertainment & Leisure
Plastic
Smoking Accessories
Containers
Object type
Smoker's compendium
TitleSmoker's Friend (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Compression-moulded phenol formaldehyde ('Bakelite')
Bakelite
Phenolic
Compression Moulding
Brief description
Smoker's friend; semi-circular, brown mottled Bakelite; probably UK, about 1925; marked Linsden Ware
Physical description
Semi-circular 'smoker's friend' compendium of brown Bakelite, with green and red overall mottling. The lid and the tray are decorated around the edge with a scrolling leaf pattern, bordering a frosted ground. In the centre of each is a circular feature. The tray revolves through 180° to reveal compartments for tobacco, matches and ash. The raised peg in the matchbox compartment will open the box as it is pushed in.
Dimensions
  • Length: 16.5cm
  • Width: 8.3cm
  • Height: 8.9cm
Measurements taken from paper records - not checked on object.
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
'Linsden Ware'
Object history
Fred Bulmer, a collector based in Leeds, Yorkshire, offered his collection of ‘plastic antiques’ to the V&A in late 1982. The Museum chose to purchase 59 objects from Bulmer the following year (for acquisition papers see MA/1/B3395). The objects were divided among the Museum’s collections according to object type: Furniture and Woodwork taking 26 objects (W.50 to 75-1983), Metalwork 18 objects (M.49 to 66-1984) and Ceramics and Glass 14 objects (C.41 to 54-1984).
Production
Made by several manufacturers under licence.
Subject depicted
Foliage
Collection
Furniture and Woodwork Collection
Accession number
W.60-1983

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O321774/smokers-friend-smokers-compendium-unknown/
Download as: JSON