Embassy
Milk Jug
1963 (made), 1960 (designed)
1963 (made), 1960 (designed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This milk jug is part of the 'Embassy' series, which won the Design Centre Award 1965. After a limited competition, in 1963 the Ministry of Works asked David Mellor to design a silver table service for use in British Embassies abroad. The idea was Lord John Hope's, who was Minister of Works in the Conservative Government under Harold Macmillan. He determined that in future British embassies should be built and furnished in an obviously modern style.
Mellor designed the entire silver collection, which included this coffee service, a set of cutlery with stainless steel blades, a tea kettle, condiment sets, engraved silver salvers and a range of candlesticks. Unfortunately, only two embassies were actually furnished with the embassy silver, those in Warsaw and Mexico City. The new minister cancelled the project, the result of a cost-cutting exercise.
Mellor designed the entire silver collection, which included this coffee service, a set of cutlery with stainless steel blades, a tea kettle, condiment sets, engraved silver salvers and a range of candlesticks. Unfortunately, only two embassies were actually furnished with the embassy silver, those in Warsaw and Mexico City. The new minister cancelled the project, the result of a cost-cutting exercise.
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Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Embassy (manufacturer's title) |
| Materials and techniques | Silver, raised, cast and polished. |
| Brief description | Milk jug, `Embassy' silver, Sheffield hallmarks for 1963, mark of David Mellor |
| Physical description | Milk jug, silver, a squat bowl resting on a plain circular foot, the sides sloping inwards, the everted spout extended from the rim, the `D' shaped handle attached to the body opposite the spout. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Production type | small batch |
| Marks and inscriptions | Base: maker DM for David Mellor, crown, sterling, date letter V (1963-64) |
| Object history | Part of the "Embassy" series which won the Design Centre Award, 1965. As the result of a limited competition, David Mellor was approached by the Ministry of Works in 1963 to design a silver table service for use in British Embassies abroad. The idea was Lord John Hope's who as Minister of Works in the Macmillan Government determined that in future British embassies should be built and furnished in an obviously modern style. Mellor designed the entire silver collection which included this coffee service, a set of cutlery with stainless steel blades, a tea kettle, condiment sets, engraved silver salvers and a range of candlesticks. Unfortunately, the only embassies which were actually furnished with the embassy silver were Warsaw and Mexico City. A change of minister brought about the cancellation of the project through a cost cutting exercise. Historical significance: Winner of Design Centre Award in 1965. |
| Association | |
| Summary | This milk jug is part of the 'Embassy' series, which won the Design Centre Award 1965. After a limited competition, in 1963 the Ministry of Works asked David Mellor to design a silver table service for use in British Embassies abroad. The idea was Lord John Hope's, who was Minister of Works in the Conservative Government under Harold Macmillan. He determined that in future British embassies should be built and furnished in an obviously modern style. Mellor designed the entire silver collection, which included this coffee service, a set of cutlery with stainless steel blades, a tea kettle, condiment sets, engraved silver salvers and a range of candlesticks. Unfortunately, only two embassies were actually furnished with the embassy silver, those in Warsaw and Mexico City. The new minister cancelled the project, the result of a cost-cutting exercise. |
| Associated object | CIRC.674-1965 (Set) |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.675-1965 |
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| Record created | March 3, 2004 |
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