Biba label

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Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C

Artist/Maker	McConnell, John (designer)
Place of origin	London (made)

John McConnell designed two versions of the Biba logo. The first was designed for the Biba mail order catalogues around 1966 and drew on Art Nouveau lettering of the 1890s for inspiration, a form of Celtic lettering reinterpreted by the Liberty style of the period. In 1969, the logo was re-designed reflecting inspiration from 1930s Art Deco. When the Biba shop moved in 1973 to the former Derry & Toms building (built in 1933) in Kensington High Street, the interiors were decorated in a style inspired by the glamorous era of 1930s' Hollywood.

Object details

Categories	Labels & Packaging Ephemera Shopping Prints
Object type	Label
Title	Biba label (generic title)
Materials and techniques	printed paper Paper Printing
Brief description	Biba label, art deco style
Physical description	Biba store branded ephemera. The logo appearing on this label was first designed by John McConnell in 1969. Key features of the Biba "brand identity" are the use of black and gold with Art Deco styling.
Dimensions	Height: 9cm Width: 4cm
Marks and inscriptions	Biba (Brand; English)
Summary	John McConnell designed two versions of the Biba logo. The first was designed for the Biba mail order catalogues around 1966 and drew on Art Nouveau lettering of the 1890s for inspiration, a form of Celtic lettering reinterpreted by the Liberty style of the period. In 1969, the logo was re-designed reflecting inspiration from 1930s Art Deco. When the Biba shop moved in 1973 to the former Derry & Toms building (built in 1933) in Kensington High Street, the interiors were decorated in a style inspired by the glamorous era of 1930s' Hollywood.
Collection	Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number	E.3684-1983

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Record created	February 5, 2004
Record URL	https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O90883/biba-label-label-mcconnell-john/

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