Invitation to a private reception given by Liberty and the Victoria and Albert Museum at Liberty. Inflatable transparent plastic, forming the word "plastics", with V&A and Liberty printed on it.

General Description: Invitation to the Private View of the Plastics Exhibition organised by the Victoria and Albert Museum and the department store Liberty and sponsored by the European Vinyl Corporation and others. Held in the V&A 14 February - 24 April 1990. Lettered with the initials and phone number of the manufacturers Newton Abbott Plastics.

Notes: Newton Abbott Plastics, which manufactured the plastic inflatable, are a small independent company, in existence since 1980. The commission to manufacture this card came to them through the Federation of High Frequency Welders, of whom John Cox, owner of N.A.P. is a member. A strong "environmental" lobby at the time in favour of disposable or bio-degradable plastics led to most members of the Federation being against production. John Cox was the only member who welcomed the idea and was prepared to take it on, seeing this invitation card as an art work in itself which recipients would probably like to keep anyway. The card was made from a 'zinco' or printing plate, specially made and used for welding the two sheets together and a specially cut dye to cut the shape. The welding was done not by a traditional heat treatment but by high frequency welding similar in principle to microwave heating.

E.722-1990