Plastics have been described as "materials that can be moulded or shaped into different forms under pressure or heat." They were a cultural phenomenon in the twentieth century when they changed the way objects were produced, designed and used. It was also in the twentieth century that most plastic products moved away from natural raw materials to synthetically produced ones.

The museum's plastics collection began in the 1930s with the acquisition of specimens of plastic raw materials and finished products. The collection was driven largely by Arthur de Ramon Penfold (1890-1980), a former industrial chemist, who worked as curator and later director of the museum from 1927 until 1955.

Between 26 and 28 of September 1934, the Technical College and the museum collaborated to develop what was advocated as the first Plastics Industry Exhibition in Australia. A permanent display of plastics was established at the museum, and was described by the Sunday Telegraph as 'the best display of plastics and fibres in the world show(ing) the complete history of plastics from first experiments to the latest developments'.

This group of plastic ring cases were collected by Penfold, in 1947, to display the latest in the design and style of plastic jewellery boxes. Post World War II, more and more decorative plastic articles were being manufactured as materials became more readily available. Australia had never seen such intricate designs in plastic jewellery cases. On one particular heart shaped case Penfold, stated he had 'never seen another like it anywhere in the world'.

These objects are a part of a large collection of plastics and plastic moulding powders acquired by the museum during Arthur Penfold's career. This collection gives an insight into a period of great social, material, technological and scientific development as well as the collecting practices of the museum at the time. Plastics continues to be an area that is explored and represented in the museum's collection, however today it reflects some of the more ambivalent attitudes towards plastics and their use, particularly in regards to the environment and sustainability.

Reference:

Sunday Telegraph, 'For plastics he saw great things', 11 November 1945.
M. Kaufman, the First Century of Plastics, The Plastics Institute, London, 1963. pg55
Penfold, A. R., 'Plastics and Synthetic Fibres', A.H. Pettifer, Government Printer, Sydney, 1956

Erika Dicker
Assistant Curator, May 2008.

These ring cases are made from a mixture of cellulose acetate, ethyl cellulose, urea, and polyethylene.

The plastic cases are made by the Dennison Manufacturing Company, Massachusetts, USA. The Dennison Manufacturing Company was started by watchmaker Aaron Lufkin Dennison in 1843 . Although he was primarily a watchmaker he began producing paper and cardboard watch and jewellery cases, as he was having great trouble obtaining quality ones for his watches. In 1849 he left the business to his younger brother Eliphalet Whorf Dennison and went on to pursue a successful career as a watchmaker, becoming known as the 'father of American watchmaking' The Dennison Manufacturing Company began producing paper toys, crepe paper, books and games along with their jewellery cases. In 1946 the company changed its name from the Dennison Manufacturing Company to the Dennison Company. The company passed hands to Eliphalet's son Charles Dennison in 1884.

Upon a merger in 1990 the Dennison Company became the Avery Dennison Corporation, which still manufactures stationary and self adhesive labels in 2008.

Reference:
Jonh Ingham,' Dennison, Charles Sumner', Biographical Dictionary of American Business Leaders, Greenwood Publishing, USA, 1983
Correspondence, A. R Penfold to G. E Engel, Dennison Company, 20th December , 1946, Museum Archives

These ring cases were displayed in the museum to show the application of plastic for making designer jewellery cases. Penfold used these objects to 'modernise' the plastics exhibition, keeping abreast of current trends and designs in the manufacture of jewellery cases. The Dennison Company donated these cases in 1947, and sent another consignment in 1950, to keep the exhibit up to date of the current trends. The correspondence between Penfold and the company shows Penfold's desire to obtain up to date and interesting plastic objects for display in the museum, which he was greatly dedicated to. In a letter in 1949 Penfold writes that "your exhibit has been of considerable educational value, particularly to those engaged in plastic design. So far no one in this country has observed anything comparable with yours."

The filigree heart shaped ring case was of special interest to Penfold, stating in 1946 that he had 'never seen another like it anywhere in the world'.

Reference:
Correspondence, A. R Penfold to G. E Engel, Dennison Company, 15th September , 1949, Museum Archives.
Correspondence, A. R Penfold to G. E Engel, Dennison Company, 20th December , 1946, Museum Archives

Ring cases, cellulose acetate / ethyl cellulose / urea / polyethylene, made by Dennison Company, USA, 1947

Ring cases, plastic, (9) (OF). 10 Plastic ring cases, hinged type as follows, (1) 3" x 2" base urea type pink & gold mutton fat (2) 3" x 2" base urea type jade & gold mutton (3) 3" x 2" base urea type jade & gold mutton (4) 3" x 2"" turquoise & gold (5) 3" x 2" base urea type salmon pink fluted front edge. (6) square base fluted edges cream & gold (7) square base embossed base pink (8) square base embossed base pink (polyethyline) (9) flat shell shape area white (10) flat heart shape filigree ornament Ethyl Cellulose (LC).

Made: 1947

H4818

1947