{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O95639"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O95639/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AU8848/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AU8848/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AU8848","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O95639","accessionNumber":"M.59&A to E-1988","objectType":"Tea and Coffee Service","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This is a prototype for a series of 11 tea and coffee services. Officina Alessi, a subdivision of Alessi s.p.a. of Milan, commissioned the series from international architects. It was made in silver in a limited edition of 99.\r\n\r\nThe economic recessions of the 1970s and 1980s permanently altered the manufacturing industries of Europe. The optimism of the immediate post-war period was swept away. After the Second World War, design had been concerned with changing society. By the 1980s, it was associated merely with marketing and 'lifestyle'. Silversmiths could no longer subsidise their craft by design consultancies. Nor could they claim that they were part of the mainstream culture. The individual silversmith returned to operating in a niche market. In some respects, this had a curiously liberating effect. In Europe from the 1970s, there was increasing attention on personal expression, often using curved, sensual surfaces. There was less emphasis on a unified aesthetic philosophy and the range of work became more diverse.\r\n\r\nIn Italy, postmodern experiments redefined the public perception of modernism. With their Tea & Coffee Piazza series, Alessi created a group of startling tableaux that excited world attention. Barely functional, some incorporated obvious historical references. All show a degree of deconstruction, an architectural and sculptural movement that surfaced during the 1980s.","physicalDescription":"Part of a tea and coffee service","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Yamashita, Kazumasa","id":"A10580"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Alessi","id":"A5411"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Electroplated nickel silver","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Tea, Coffee & Chocolate wares","id":"THES48886"}],"styles":[{"text":"Post Modern","id":"AAT22208"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AU8848"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES405627"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES405627"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES405627"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES405627"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES405627"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES405627"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Coffee-pot","id":""}],[{"text":"teapot","id":"AAT43022"}],[{"text":"milk jug","id":"AAT260048"}],[{"text":"sugar bowl","id":"AAT42971"}],[{"text":"spoon","id":"AAT43149"}],[{"text":"tray","id":"AAT43071"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Milan","id":"x29007"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1983","earliest":"1983-01-01","latest":"1983-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"M.59A-1988","id":"O381282"},"association":"Set"},{"object":{"text":"M.59B-1988","id":"O381282"},"association":"Set"},{"object":{"text":"M.59C-1988","id":"O295878"},"association":"Set"},{"object":{"text":"M.59D-1988","id":"O295877"},"association":"Set"},{"object":{"text":"M.59E-1988","id":"O381282"},"association":"Set"}],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Width","value":"24","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"7.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"22.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Inscribed: Officina Alessi Italy P.A. T.E. 54 (-58)","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":"A8728"},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"A prototype for the series of eleven tea and coffee services commissioned from architects by Officina Alessi s.p.a. Milan, and made in a limited edition in silver.\nMeasurements of individual pieces:\nCoffee Pot: W 24.0  D 7.5  H 22.5\nTea Pot: W 24.0  D 10.0  H 19.5\nMilk Jug: W 23.0  D 15.0  H 15.0\nSugar Bowl: L 51.0  W 16.0  H 1.5\nTray: L 51.0  W 16.0  H 1.5","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Electroplated nickel silver, Made in Milan, by Alessi in 1983, designed by Kazumasa Yamashita","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"TEA & COFFEE SERVICE\r\nElectroplated silver on copper\r\nItaly, Milan, 1983\r\nMade by Officina Alessi, A division of Alessi spa, Milan\r\nDesigned by Kazumasa Yamashita (b.Japan 1937)\r\nInscribed OFFICINA / ALESSI / ITALY / PA / TE 54 (-58)\r\nA prototype for a series of eleven tea and coffee services commissioned from international architects by Officina Alessi  and made in a limited edition of 99 in silver.\r\nM.59-e,-1988","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["M.59-1988","M.59A-1988","M.59B-1988","M.59C-1988","M.59D-1988","M.59E-1988"],"accessionNumberNum":"59","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1988,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-07","recordCreationDate":"2004-03-03","availableToBook":true}}