Homemaker: 1950s Design Classic

Synopsis: Homemaker was sold only in Woolworths, from 1957 to 1970, and is now keenly sought by collectors. In an exclusive interview with the pattern’s designer, Enid Seeney, we get insight into all the stages of design up to production, and learn about her design career. She shows all her original drawing and working designs of this and other well-known patterns of hers. Bob Kelsall engraved the original printing plates from the design for the new Murray Curvex printing machine, and explains the ‘fine tuning’ of the design to meet technological considerations. We see one of the last remaining original Murrray Curvex machines in operation at Burgess, Dorling and Leigh in Middlepport - where it is still printing designs today. Collector Peter Davis shows his large collection of Homemaker and ceramicist Helen Johannesen pays tribute with her design "YoYoMaker" from her design range, showing her modern ‘take’ on the design, which pays homage to Enid’s 1950s original. There is also an extra item on the DVD: a complete Spode film of 1954, which is the period Enid Seeney was developing her design career at Spode.
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Subjects: Crafts; Design; History; Women’s studies
Keywords: ceramics; designers; film archives; local history; Staffordshire; industrial history; Seeney, Enid June (1931-2011)

Name: Staffordshire Film Archive
Contact: Ray Johnson MBE
Email: ray.johnson@filmarchive.org.uk
Web: http://www.filmarchive.org.uk/index.html External site opens in new window
Phone: 07774 482414
Address: Ray Johnson Productions
P.O. Box 777
Stoke-on-Trent
ST4 8QA
United Kingdom

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British Universities Film & Video Council