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Telephone - Pink Jelly XK200 Twinphone

Pink Jelly XK200 Twinphone

  • Object:

    Telephone

  • Place of origin:

    Switzerland (designed)
    Taiwan (made)

  • Date:

    1990 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Swatch (designer)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Plastic

  • Credit Line:

    Given by the manufacturer

  • Museum number:

    W.3-1996

  • Gallery location:

    National Art Library, room 76, case 19

  • Image in copyright

Swatch telephones used a similar decorative language to the brand’s wrist watches and each model is distinguished by its appearance rather than the service it offers. This one displays the working parts as decoration.

Physical description

Telephone: 'Pink Jelly XK200 Twinphone', plastic, 24.5 x 7 x 5 cm.

Place of Origin

Switzerland (designed)
Taiwan (made)

Date

1990 (made)

Artist/maker

Swatch (designer)

Materials and Techniques

Plastic

Dimensions

Height: 24.5 cm, Width: 7 cm, Depth: 5 cm

Object history note

The telephone was acquired for the Twentieth Century Gallery, which opened in 1992. It was not assigned to a specific collection until 1996. This is a non-working sample to show the exterior design of the object.

Historical context note

Swatch began making telephones in 1989, following the success of the wrist-watches during the 1980s.

Descriptive line

Telephone, 'Pink Jelly XK200 Twinphone', plastic, designed by Swatch, Switzerland, made in Taiwan, 1990

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Baker, Malcolm and Richardson, Brenda, eds. A Grand Design : The Art of the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: V&A Publications, 1997. 431 p., ill. ISBN 1851773088.
This telephone, like a series of internationally popular wristwatches also produced by Swatch, uses internal functional components as a primary decorative feature (like Daniel Weil's Radio in a Bag, cat. 182.5). In its cheerful, candy colours and its visually accessible technology, the telephone signals youth and playfulness as well as contemporary style.

RICHARD DUNN

Exhibition History

Precious: Objects and Changing Values (The Millennium Galleries, Sheffield 02/04/2001-24/06/2001)
A Grand Design - The Art of the Victoria and Albert Museum (Victoria and Albert Museum 12/10/1999-16/01/2000)

Collection code

FWK

Qr_O79968
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