Big Ben
Case Containing Razor
ca.1935 (made)
ca.1935 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Small, six-sided, mottled brown Bakelite case for a travel safety razor. The hinge is integral. On top is a moulded Art Deco design of a ring and bars. Inside the lid is the moulded brand name, 'BIG BEN', and two rings which hold the parts of the razor in place whilst they're inside the box. The handle of the razor detaches from the head and both fit neatly into the case in moulded fairings.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Big Ben (manufacturer's title) |
| Materials and techniques | Bakelite; aluminium, stainless steel |
| Brief description | Small Bakelite case containing aluminium and stainless steel travel razor; Souplex, Morecambe, about 1935 |
| Physical description | Small, six-sided, mottled brown Bakelite case for a travel safety razor. The hinge is integral. On top is a moulded Art Deco design of a ring and bars. Inside the lid is the moulded brand name, 'BIG BEN', and two rings which hold the parts of the razor in place whilst they're inside the box. The handle of the razor detaches from the head and both fit neatly into the case in moulded fairings. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Production type | Mass produced |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Object history | Fred Bulmer, a collector based in Leeds, Yorkshire, offered his collection of ‘plastic antiques’ to the V&A in late 1982. The Museum chose to purchase 59 objects from Bulmer the following year (for acquisition papers see MA/1/B3395). The objects were divided among the Museum’s collections according to object type: Furniture and Woodwork taking 26 objects (W.50 to 75-1983), Metalwork 18 objects (M.49 to 66-1984) and Ceramics and Glass 14 objects (C.41 to 54-1984). |
| Production | Big Ben appears to have been a brand name used for razors by Souplex, a manufacturer based in Morcambe, Lancashire. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.59-1984 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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