{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O140789"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O140789/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019MH2782/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019MH2782/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2019MH2782","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O140789","accessionNumber":"CIRC.58-1968","objectType":"Sample","titles":[{"title":"China Clay 8.6 PVC sheeting","type":"manufacturer's title"}],"summaryDescription":"Sir William Henry Bragg and his son William were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1915 for the invention of X-ray crystallography. This new science enabled the first drawings of the arrangement of atoms within molecules. It was particularly developed as one of the most significant and exciting branches of science during the late 1940s and put Britain at the cutting edge of international research. In 1946 Dr Helen Megaw, a Crystallographer (Crystallography – a study of the structure of matter) suggested that the patterns made by X-ray crystallography could be used as a fresh source of inspiration for wallpaper and fabric designers. The patterns were considered particularly appropriate for use in textile design because of their repetitive symmetry and natural beauty.\r\n\r\nThis sample pattern, based on China Clay, has been printed on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheeting. It was produced by the Dunlop Rubber Company for the 1951 Festival of Britain. Printed PVC sheeting was a new experimental product and the development of this material was Dunlop’s main focus at that time. Prototypes were shown in the Regatta Restaurant and Dome of Discovery at the festival, but the products themselves were not commercially available. The idea of patterns inspired by science was perfect for the theme of the festival, which had been planned as a ‘combined exhibition of science, technology and industrial design’.","physicalDescription":"Sample of opaque printed Polyvinyl chloride furnishing fabric with a green and blue ground and a design of five hexagons arranged into circles, infilled with red and yellow triangles, yellow and black stripes, and smaller pink, blue and yellow hexagons, or with the ground colour showing through.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Mary A. Harper","id":"AUTH376890"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":"Mary Appleby Harper was a Birmingham based pattern designer who worked for Dunlop, not to be confused with Mary Amelia Harper, a textile designer active around the same time. "}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Dunlop Rubber Company","id":"A28529"},"association":{"text":"designed for","id":"x41471"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"polyvinyl chloride","id":"AAT14513"}],"techniques":[{"text":"printing","id":"AAT53319"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Printed polyvinyl chloride","categories":[{"text":"Plastic","id":"THES49026"},{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"},{"text":"Interiors","id":"THES48933"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2019MH2782"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"010","id":"THES326691"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Sample","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1951","earliest":"1951-01-01","latest":"1951-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by the Council of Industrial Design","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"460","unit":"mm","qualifier":"unrolled","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"2140","unit":"mm","qualifier":"unrolled","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"55","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"11/06/2012","earliest":"2012-06-11","latest":"2012-06-11"},"part":"roll tubing","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"5.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"11/06/2012","earliest":"2012-06-11","latest":"2012-06-11"},"part":"roll tubing","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"0.56","unit":"kg","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"11/06/2012","earliest":"2012-06-11","latest":"2012-06-11"},"part":"including tubing","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"550","unit":"mm","qualifier":"rolled","date":{"text":"30/10/2019","earliest":"2019-10-30","latest":"2019-10-30"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"65","unit":"mm","qualifier":"rolled","date":{"text":"30/10/2019","earliest":"2019-10-30","latest":"2019-10-30"},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"X-ray crystallography involved projecting a narrow beam of X-rays on to crystalline material. Photographs were then taken of the diffracted X-rays, and the resulting lines or spots were used to plot 'maps' indicating the relationships between atoms. For the first time ever it enabled scientist to work out the structure of atoms within molecules. Britain was a world leader in the field of crystallography and during the post war period this was one of the most significant and stimulating branches of science.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Sample of printed polyvinyl chloride (PVC) furnishing fabric, 'China Clay 8.6 PVC sheeting', designed by Mary A. Harper (Mary Appleby Harper) for Dunlop Rubber Company, England, 1951, for the Festival Pattern Group, part of the Festival of Britain. ","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Beards, Phil and Sarah James, 'Historical and British Wallpapers - a landmark 1945 exhibition' V&A website. Online https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/historical-and-british-wallpapers-a-landmark-1945-exhibition\r\n"}],"production":"Mary Appleby Harper (1915 - 1984)\r\n\r\nMary A. Harper (not to be confused with Mary Harper, her contemporary) worked as an industrial designer for Dunlop and as an independent textiles designer. She completed her studies at Birmingham Municipal School of Art shortly before the start of war in 1939, interrupting her career ambitions as a textile designer. She continued her commercial freelance practice throughout the war before taking up employment with Dunlop in 1947. \r\n","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[{"text":"Festival of Britain","id":"V94"}],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["CIRC.58-1968"],"accessionNumberNum":"58","accessionNumberPrefix":"CIRC","accessionYear":1968,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-08-19","recordCreationDate":"2007-11-21","availableToBook":true}}