Midwinter Modern
Cup
ca. 1957 (designed)
ca. 1957 (designed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Melamine cup in forest green.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Titles |
|
| Materials and techniques | Melamine |
| Brief description | Cup, melamine, Midwinter Modern, designed by A.H. Woodfull and John Vale, ca. 1957 |
| Physical description | Melamine cup in forest green. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | 'BREAK RESISTANT / TABLEWARE / MIDWINTER / MODERN / MADE IN ENGLAND' within a squared-off circular line, moulded on base |
| Credit line | Given by the Council of Industrial Design |
| Object history | CoID Design of the Year 1957. One of four items from the range acquired by the Museum. Designed by A.H. Woodfull and John Vale of the BIP Product Design Unit, the cup for Midwinter’s melamine range represented a design breakthrough. The handle, often a weak area in the design of moulded plastic cups, was realised through a design solution that achieved comfort for either a ‘pinch’ or ‘finger-through’ hold. Its shape also allowed for good material flow into the handle section during moulding, an attribute essential for strength. The handle's fine modelling and distinctive aesthetics were made possible by the departure from the conventional moulding method of a single core pin through the handle. Instead, two split cores that met in the middle of the handle were used, this involving very sophisticated tooling and mould construction for the period. |
| Production | Designed by A. H. 'Woody' Woodfull and John Vale of the British Industrial Plastics Product Design Unit, Oldbury, Birmingham. Made by Streetly Manufacturing Co. Ltd. for Midwinter Ltd., using 'Melmex' melamine made by British Industrial Plastics Chemicals Ltd., Birmingham. |
| Bibliographic reference | V&A Ceramics and Glass Collection Object Information File |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.453-1963 |
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 Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis.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
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | February 20, 2008 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
