Ladle
1880 (designed), ca.1880 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This ladle breaks with tradition by replacing the graceful curve generally used for ladles, with a stricter, broken form, which requires only the slightest turn of the hand for serving.
Design & Designing
Dresser realised that the use of thin-gauge metal made the object inherently weak and therefore subject to distortion. His solution was to add reinforcing ridges and an internal lip, which gave the bowl extra rigidity.Therefore the articulations used in this design had a functional as well as aesthetic purpose. Other versions of this design were made with ivory handles.
People
Unlike his contemporaries whom he saw as indulging in pictorialism and historicism for the sake of their superficial romantic associations, Dresser attempted to investigate the formal properties of the objects he admired. He developed fresh designs following on from his own instinct for natural functional forms, which he believed to be appropriate to contemporary requirements.
This ladle breaks with tradition by replacing the graceful curve generally used for ladles, with a stricter, broken form, which requires only the slightest turn of the hand for serving.
Design & Designing
Dresser realised that the use of thin-gauge metal made the object inherently weak and therefore subject to distortion. His solution was to add reinforcing ridges and an internal lip, which gave the bowl extra rigidity.Therefore the articulations used in this design had a functional as well as aesthetic purpose. Other versions of this design were made with ivory handles.
People
Unlike his contemporaries whom he saw as indulging in pictorialism and historicism for the sake of their superficial romantic associations, Dresser attempted to investigate the formal properties of the objects he admired. He developed fresh designs following on from his own instinct for natural functional forms, which he believed to be appropriate to contemporary requirements.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Electroplate, with an ebony handle |
| Brief description | Ladle, electroplate with ebony handle, Birmingham ca.1880, made by Hukin & Heath, designed by Christopher Dresser. |
| Physical description | Electroplate ladle with hemispherical bowl and handle with angular bend. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | Marks: 'Designed by Dr. C. Dresser'; 'H & H', 2123 (registration mark for 28 July 1880) |
| Gallery label |
|
| Credit line | From the Handley Read Collection |
| Object history | Designed by Christopher Dresser (born in Glasgow, 1834, died in Mulhouse, France, 1904); manufactured by Hukin & Heath, Birmingham |
| Summary | Object Type This ladle breaks with tradition by replacing the graceful curve generally used for ladles, with a stricter, broken form, which requires only the slightest turn of the hand for serving. Design & Designing Dresser realised that the use of thin-gauge metal made the object inherently weak and therefore subject to distortion. His solution was to add reinforcing ridges and an internal lip, which gave the bowl extra rigidity.Therefore the articulations used in this design had a functional as well as aesthetic purpose. Other versions of this design were made with ivory handles. People Unlike his contemporaries whom he saw as indulging in pictorialism and historicism for the sake of their superficial romantic associations, Dresser attempted to investigate the formal properties of the objects he admired. He developed fresh designs following on from his own instinct for natural functional forms, which he believed to be appropriate to contemporary requirements. |
| Associated objects | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.26B-1972 |
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 | January 25, 2000 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
