Inspiring Objects/Creative Journeys

Further research - 1960s

Chair Thing

• Object:
  Chair
• Place of origin:
  London, England (The chair was first manufactured by Peter Murdoch Inc. backed by International Paper Collaboration i, made)
• Date:
  1964 (designed)
  1965 (made)
• Artist/Maker:
  Murdoch, Peter, born 1940 (designer)
  Peter Murdoch Inc (backed by International Paper Inc., USA (1965 to probably 1966), maker)
  New Merton Board Mills (in 1967 Perspective Designs commissioned Murdoch to design a new range, including the 'Chair Thing' , manufactured)
• Materials and Techniques:
  Polyurethane-coated laminated paper, die-cut and folded
• Credit Line:
  Given by Peter Murdoch
• Museum number:
  CIRC.17-1970

Pierrot

• Object:
  Plate
• Place of origin:
  Fenton, England (manufactured)
• Date:
  ca. 1955- ca. 1960 (manufactured)
• Artist/Maker:
  James Broadhurst & Sons Ltd. (manufacturer)
• Materials and Techniques:
  Earthenware with underglaze printed decoration
• Credit Line:
  Given by Oliver Watson
• Museum number:
  C.160-1992

Inspiring Objects/Creative Journeys

Further research - 1960s

Recurrence

• Object:
  Furnishing fabric
• Place of origin:
  Great Britain, United Kingdom (made)
• Date:
  1962 (designed)
• Artist/Maker:
  Barbara Brown (designer)
  Heal Fabrics Ltd. (designed for)
• Materials and Techniques:
  Screen-printed cotton
• Credit Line:
  Given by Heal Fabrics Ltd.
• Museum number:
  CIRC.657-1962
• Gallery location:

Intermission

• Object:
  Furnishing fabric
• Place of origin:
  Great Britain, United Kingdom (made)
• Date:
  1960 (made)
• Artist/Maker:
  Barbara Brown (designer)
  Heal Fabrics Ltd. (designed for)
• Materials and Techniques:
  Printed cotton
• Credit Line:
  Given by Heal's Wholesale and Export Ltd.
• Museum number:
  CIRC.250-1960

Inspiring Objects/Creative Journeys

On a second visit to MoDA I looked at another two objects from the 1960s. One was a design magazine and the second was a piece of fabric with a typical 60s pattern.

I found the fabric the most interesting. It was quite large and on a roll. The pattern was split into squares and then had either another square or a circle inside each one. The colour scheme was white, orange and brown. The first thing it reminded my of was a clock that my grandparents had on their kitchen wall that was the same colours.

The second object I choose to look at was a Design magazine from Febuary 1960. I decided on this because it had a wide range of information about all aspects of design, mainly for the home. I liked it because it was more than a brochure - it had analysis and further information about the designers and materials used etc.

1960s Research

Further to my last post about the MoDA visit, I have decided to look further at the 1960s. 

The 'Swinging Sixties' are famous for many things: The Beatles, new fashions and a drastic change in peoples views mainly lead by the youth of the era. 

Here are a few examples of the fashions of the sixties:

Men's 'Mod' style business suit. 

Men's cardigan from 1960s. 

 The Beatles 

Example of 1960s print in ladies fashion

How mens suits had changed in the sixties


Example print from 1960s drapery fabric

Inspiring Objects/Creative Journeys

On a visit to MoDA I was looking at a piece of machine woven fabric from the 1960s. The weave was quite thick and there was a print running from top to bottom, repeated three times. It was quite abstract, reminding me of Picasso's work. The fabric was a beige colour, dirty with use, and the print colours were neutral, in brown, greys and blues. The piece was quite big, but I thought it would have been a smaller sample of the orginal item, maybe used for a wall hanging, curtain or blind.

(The design was made by Alan Munrow Reynolds for Edinborough Weavers as part of the 60s artist movement in fashion and fabrics.)

I have decided to look at the style/date for further research from this item. 

32 Cremer Street

32 Cremer street is a trust property found below the arches just outside Hoxton overground station in East London. It is now an unofficial squat used by only one person and turned into an intimate club venue now and again. 

The space is small (what would have been a two up, two down house) with the coat check in the kitchen and living room used as the bar/dance floor. Upstairs is a chill out room with old leather sofas and one wall covered in a bookcase (giving it a homely feel) and toilets behind. 

The club nights held here have a very intimate feel as the venue holds around 100 people. Everyone knows someone who knows someone and the outside smoking den makes for the perfect place to meet everyone. 

Club nights like 'bite my lip' with the dress code 'dress the fuck up' is what this place is all about. It is the norm here for guys to be dressed in heels or mad face paint. I have even seen one guy dressed in full riding gear. 

The small dance floor come bar come DJ booth is filled with House music with good mix of trance too. All in all the perfect place to party until the small hours of the morning.