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Collection of Parkesine objects made by Alexander Parkes

Collection of objects made by Alexander Parkes, inventor of Parkesine, c. 1862. Formerly in collection of the Plastics and Rubber Institute (PRI) (later amalgamated into the Institute of Minerals, Mining and Metallurgy) and then given to the Plastics Historical Society. Originally donated to the PRI by the Parkes Family c. 1960

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Mottled green Parkesine sample sheet

Mottled green Parkesine sample sheet

1862
Parkesine fishing reel

Parkesine fishing reel

1862
Parkesine seal of Queen Victoria

Parkesine seal of Queen Victoria

1862
Mottled blue, green and orange Parkesine sample sheet

Mottled blue, green and orange Parkesine sample sheet

1862
Parkesine handled cut throat razor in leathette box.

Parkesine handled cut throat razor in leathette box.

1862
Red and green Parkesine Exhibition medal

Red and green Parkesine Exhibition medal

1862
Orange speckled Parkesine door handle

Orange speckled Parkesine door handle

1862
Green Parkesine strip

Green Parkesine strip

1862
Red Parkesine business card sample

Red Parkesine business card sample

1862
Red Parkesine curtain ring

Red Parkesine curtain ring

1862
Pink Parkesine sample sheet

Pink Parkesine sample sheet

1862
Red rectangular Parkesine plaque with moulded decoration.

Red rectangular Parkesine plaque with moulded decoration.

1862
Brown and green Parkesine Exhibition medal

Brown and green Parkesine Exhibition medal

1862
Turquoise Parkesine square off cut curved sheet

Turquoise Parkesine square off cut curved sheet

1862
White and blue Parkesine Exhibition medal

White and blue Parkesine Exhibition medal

1862
Prussian blue textured Parkesine sample sheet

Prussian blue textured Parkesine sample sheet

1862
Mould made of vulcanised rubber

Mould made of vulcanised rubber

1862
Mottled grey, brown and green Parkesine rectangular sheet

Mottled grey, brown and green Parkesine rectangular sheet

1862
Ivory coloured Parkesine curtain ring.

Ivory coloured Parkesine curtain ring.

1862
Green Parkesine knife handle blank

Green Parkesine knife handle blank

1862
Cream colour Parkesine sheet scrap

Cream colour Parkesine sheet scrap

1862
Speckled Prussian blue Parkesine rectangular sheet

Speckled Prussian blue Parkesine rectangular sheet

1862
Black Parkesine curtain ring

Black Parkesine curtain ring

1862
Marbled black and white Parkesine sample

Marbled black and white Parkesine sample

1862
Mottled dark green Parkesine sample sheet

Mottled dark green Parkesine sample sheet

1862
Rust brown colour Parkesine sample sheet

Rust brown colour Parkesine sample sheet

1862
Blue and green circular Parkesine test blank

Blue and green circular Parkesine test blank

1862
Pink Parkesine sample

Pink Parkesine sample

1862
Mottled green Parkesine ring

Mottled green Parkesine ring

1862
Olive green Parkesine sample strip

Olive green Parkesine sample strip

1862
Back of Parkesine brush or mirror with moulded female Grecian figure with tambourine

Back of Parkesine brush or mirror with moulded female Grecian figure with tambourine

1862
Rust brown colour Parkesine sample sheet

Rust brown colour Parkesine sample sheet

1862
Brown Parkesine medallion with illustration of nymphs

Brown Parkesine medallion with illustration of nymphs

1862
Rust brown colour Parkesine sample sheet

Rust brown colour Parkesine sample sheet

1862
Half red and half beige mottled Parkesine Rectangular sample

Half red and half beige mottled Parkesine Rectangular sample

1862
Pale blue Parkesine Triangular off cut

Pale blue Parkesine Triangular off cut

1862
Cream colour Parkesine sheet scrap

Cream colour Parkesine sheet scrap

1862
Circular mottled beige/dark brown disk with patent stamp

Circular mottled beige/dark brown disk with patent stamp

1862
13 Parkesine buttons. 8 red with hole through centre. 5 pink shank buttons with domed surface and metal rings attached. No P numbers. Made by Alexander Parkes; C.1862.

Thirteen Parkesine buttons

1862
Parkesine capsule. Ochre red. Cream coloured interior. Seam two thirds along object. Top can be removed to reveal cavity inside. Marked P51. Made by Alexander Parkes; c.1862.

Red Parkesine capsule with cream interior

1862
Parkesine billiard ball, ivory but discoloured. Heavy filler. Marked P122. Made by Alexander Parkes; c. 1862.

Ivory colour Parkesine Billiard ball

1862
Polished black Parkesine billiard ball. Heavy filler. Marked P120. Made by Alexander Parkes; c.1862.

Black Parkesine Billiard ball

1862
Parkesine large button blank; speckled blue and white with beige rim and base. Glue residue on underside rim. Marked P113. Made by Alexander Parkes; c. 1862.

Blue, white and beige Parkesine button blank

1862
Business card, rectangular, dark red; tessellated design. Parkesine coated on cloth? "Mrs Alexander Parkes" printed in copper plate on strip in reverse side. Marked P75. Made by Alexander Parkes; c. 1862.

Red Parkesine business card

1862
Decorative moulding sample strip; cream heical pattern; plan-convex in cross-section. Marked P186. Made by Alexander Parkes; c. 1862.

Cream colour Parkesine decorative moulding

1862
Sample business card; red waved design; reverse with white strip in middle. Parkesine coated on card. Marked P72. Made by Alexander Parkes; c. 1862.

Parkesine business card

1862
Blank for mirror back; green and cream marbled polished finish; rounded edges. Repair at top of handle. Marked P214. Made by Alexander Parkes; c. 1862.

Marbled green and cream Parkesine mirror back

1862
Ivory colour Parkesine knife handle blank. Discoloured. Oval cross-section. Tapers to rounded end. Marked P146. Made by Alexander Parkes; c.1862.

Ivory colour Parkesine knife handle blank

1862
Fragment of decorative moulding; red; flower design. Marked P196. Made by Alexander Parkes; c. 1862.

Red Parkesine decorative moulding fragment

1862
Parkesine medallion, metallised bronze green with fabric back. Stamped with image of triptych of Virgin Mary and child with female attendants, one on either side. Gothic ecclesiastical design. Stamped around border: "Sedes Sapientia. Ora pro nobis". Marked P93. Made by Alexander Parkes; c.1862.

Bronze colour Parkesine medallion with triptych of Virgin Mary and child

1862