Thing to Thing
I saw this, I made that
The David Usborne Collection was acquired by David Usborne over a period of 30 years. Usborne previously taught at the Central School of Art and Design (now UAL Central Saint Martins), and donated the majority of his idiosyncratic collection to UAL’s Archives & Special Collections Centre in 2015.
Collection is intensionally gathered objects whereas archives are objects that have accumulated more organically over time, often as a byproduct of final product.
SIMPLE DESIGN WITH FUNCTIONALITY
Food mixer blade
I chose the ceramic food mixer because of its sleek, elegant and beautiful design despite its industrial origins. This contrasts with the more rugged, grinder-like metal meat mincers or bladed choppers, showing an attempt to soften and "prettify" what is essentially kitchen equipment. Its graceful curves says how the design focuses on style as much as function.
My visual and hands-on examination of this object helped me understand it from several perspectives.
This is a ceramic food mixer blade measuring approximately 140x100mm.
It has a smooth spiral surface, but no sharp prongs or blades which means it is likely used to mix and aerate ingredients rather than chop.
It has a glossy white ceramic glaze. The material and white color suggest priorities of cleanliness, durability, and modern aesthetics.
It shows emphasis on convenience and ease over traditional menthods.
This object was likely targeted at women as convenience product for the modern kitchen.
It also talks about changing family dynamics and social structures Post-war shift, from extended to smaller nuclear families which changed cooking.
There is a hole at the bottom to attach it to the food mixer appliance, hence It mush have required proximity to electrical outlets, rather than portable.
It was likely mass produced in the mid-20th century as kitchen appliances became more prevalent.
Lastly, an interesting observation was tiny holes on the object which might indicate that it might be molded from liquid clay rather than shaped by hand. Small air bubbles in the clay or casting mold may have left these marks. It could suggest that efficiency and affordability were prioritized over craftsmanship in manufacturing. Most likely production was done rapidly in bulk by pouring liquid clay into fast-casting molds.
Ice tray
I was attracted by the simplicity of the ice tray and how it can be interpreted in many ways metaphorically.
Few interpretations could be:
It illustrates how water can be molded and transitioned into another form.
It shows how small cavities hold just enough water, not more.
The importance of finding balance and not exceeding one's capacity.
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