Platter, Residential" Pattern

Russel Wright; Northern Industrial Chemical

Object Label

Because of its low cost and easy care, plastic attracted both consumer and designer in the postwar era. Russel Wright worked with the chemical company American Cyanamid to develop a line of dinnerware from its patented plastic, Melamine. Although that venture was not successful, Wright soon found other companies to produce his designs for plastic dinnerware. Originally intended for institutional use, plastic dinnerware also found a place at home, and by 1957 Wright’s Residential line, produced by Northern Industrial Chemical, had door-to-door sales of $4 million.

Caption

Russel Wright (American, 1904–1976); Northern Industrial Chemical. Platter, Residential" Pattern, Designed 1953. Melamine (plastic), 1 x 14 ½ x 11 5/8 in. (2.5 x 36.9 x 29.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Paul F. Walter, 1994.165.61.

Gallery

Not on view

Title

Platter, Residential" Pattern

Date

Designed 1953

Medium

Melamine (plastic)

Classification

Food/Drink

Dimensions

1 x 14 ½ x 11 5/8 in. (2.5 x 36.9 x 29.5 cm)

Signatures

not signed

Inscriptions

no inscriptions

Markings

on bottom, impressed: "100%/MELAMINE/MADE IN U.S.A./BY/ NORTHERN/BOSTON 270"

Credit Line

Gift of Paul F. Walter

Accession Number

1994.165.61

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