Designing for the kitchen
From coffee makers to coconut scrapers, each object here tells a story of designers’ ingenuity in developing specialist tools to make cooking, serving and dining easier and more enjoyable. The V&A has a wide variety of kitchen equipment covering different culinary traditions, from practical innovations like Tupperware to aesthetic advancements in heat-resistant porcelain.
Written by: Miri Ahn, Curatorial Coordinator at V&A East
Published: May 2025
Description: Tagine cooking pot
Location and date: Tangier, Morocco. Unrecorded
Description: Coconut scraper
Maker: Wonderchef
Description: Masala dabba, spice tin with seven compartments
Maker: GK Global Kitchen
Description: Drawing of 12 designs for ergonomic handles for kitchen tools
Maker: Pino Spagnolo Design Snc
Sourcebook for Design
- Museum Number
- C.23A to I-1990
- Description
- Bodum
- Artist/Maker
- Jorgensen, Carsten
- Location and Date
- Switzerland, 1973-1974
- Materials/Techniques
- Borosilicate glass, Polypropylene, Stainless steel, Glass-working
- Museum Number
- FE.9-2020
- Description
- Water Jar
- Location and Date
- Jingdezhen, 2019
- Museum Number
- C.217&A-1984
- Description
- Life
- Artist/Maker
- Rabold, Lutz
- Location and Date
- Germany, ca. 1983
- Materials/Techniques
- Porcelain, Glazed, Enamelled
- Museum Number
- FE.63-2015
- Description
- Cup
- Artist/Maker
- Dong-Bo company
- Location
- Korea
- Materials/Techniques
- Stainless
- Museum Number
- FE.61:1, 2-2015
- Description
- Kettle
- Artist/Maker
- Dong-Bo company
- Location and Date
- Korea, 2015
- Materials/Techniques
- Stainless
- Museum Number
- FE.62-2015
- Description
- Cup
- Location
- Korea
- Materials/Techniques
- Stainless
- Museum Number
- C.57:1-1995
- Description
- Corningware
- Artist/Maker
- Corning
- Location and Date
- Martinsburg, c.1960
- Materials/Techniques
- Glass, Steel, Mould-blown
- Museum Number
- CIRC.576 to A-1969
- Description
- Milk Pan
- Artist/Maker
- Stephensen, Magnus
- Location and Date
- Copenhagen, 1960
- Materials/Techniques
- Stainless steel, Wood, Polished
- Museum Number
- E.39-1990
- Description
- Kitchen cabinet with bottles and jars
- Artist/Maker
- John R. J. Taylor
- Location and Date
- Uk, 1990
- Materials/Techniques
- Gelatin, Photography
- Museum Number
- M.224-2007
- Description
- Kitchen wall clock
- Artist/Maker
- Bill, Max
- Location and Date
- Schramberg, 1956
- Materials/Techniques
- Earthenware, Glass, Chrome, Metal, Plastic, Quartz, Cast
- Museum Number
- C.313:1-1993
- Description
- Wonderlier
- Artist/Maker
- Morison S. Cousins
- Location and Date
- Florida, 1991
- Materials/Techniques
- Plastic, Moulded
- Museum Number
- FE.99-1981
- Description
- Chopstick rest
- Artist/Maker
- Unknown
- Location and Date
- Japan, ca. 1979
- Materials/Techniques
- Porcelain
- Museum Number
- PROV.2413-2022
- Description
- Press
- Location and Date
- Palestine, 2000-2009
- Materials/Techniques
- Brass, Solder, Forming, Soldering
- Museum Number
- FE.99A-1981
- Description
- Chopstick rest
- Artist/Maker
- Unknown
- Location and Date
- Japan, ca. 1979
- Materials/Techniques
- Porcelain
- Museum Number
- FE.99B-1981
- Description
- Chopstick rest
- Artist/Maker
- Unknown
- Location and Date
- Japan, ca. 1979
- Materials/Techniques
- Porcelain, Overglazed, Enamelling
- Museum Number
- FE.99BOX-1981
- Description
- Storage box
- Museum Number
- FE.99C-1981
- Description
- Chopstick rest
- Artist/Maker
- Unknown
- Location and Date
- Japan, ca.1979
- Materials/Techniques
- Porcelain
- Museum Number
- FE.99D-1981
- Description
- Chopstick rest
- Artist/Maker
- Unknown
- Location and Date
- Japan, About 1979
- Materials/Techniques
- Porcelain