Timbuctoo thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Timbuctoo

Mug
1980 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Ironstone china mug of straight-sided cannister shape,with transfer-printed decoration of parrots in blue, yellow and red against a blue grid ground.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleTimbuctoo (series title)
Materials and techniques
Ironstone china with transfer-printed decoration
Brief description
'Timbuctoo' Mug, ironstone china with transfer-printed decoration, designed by Sara Lynn, made by Nicholas-John Ltd., England, 1980.
Physical description
Ironstone china mug of straight-sided cannister shape,with transfer-printed decoration of parrots in blue, yellow and red against a blue grid ground.
Dimensions
  • Height: 9.6cm
  • Diameter: 8cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • A circular view of the Derbyshire Dales (Printed)
  • 'NICHOLAS-JOHN' (Printed in red)
  • 'ENGLAND IRONSTONE' (Printed in green)
  • 'MADE IN ENGLAND' (In relief)
  • 'C TWO-CAN DESIGN 1980' (Printed in blue alongside the handle)
Credit line
Given by the maker
Object history
One of a set of three mugs [C.219 to 221-1983], decorated individually using hand applied ceramics transfers. The mug shape is called "HARPUR" and was designed by Nick Holland.

Historical significance: This mug is of interest for its pretended use of computer imaging, aiming at a 'high-tech' look even though the decorative technique is traditional transfer-printed and hand designed.
Historical context
Mugs have continued to gain popularity for use in the home and designers have been concerned to make the mug more attractive and acceptable to middle class tastes. Due to their straight-sided cylindrical shape, mugs are a convenient format for design and decoration in many styles. In the 1980s they have become like generic conveyors of style messages and are marketed in the same way T-shirts and greeting cards - the decoration on these examples would be sucessful on any of these media.
Subject depicted
Collection
Accession number
C.219-1983

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Record createdJanuary 31, 2000
Record URL
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