Molded Samples, 2021, produced by R. Mark Adams (American, b. 1950), urethane plastic

Verbal Description

Hello, my name is Rick Young and I am a Gallery Attendant at the museum. I will be reading the verbal description for the Molded Samples in Unlocking an Art Deco Bedroom by Joseph Urban.

These Molded Samples were produced from urethane plastic in 2021. They were created by R. Mark Adams, an American born in 1950.

The case in front of you contains three fluted cones that are ivory in color.  Also in the case are examples of black plexiglass used to mimic elements on the dressing table.

Label Copy

Hello, my name is Rick Young and I am a Gallery Attendant at the museum. I will be reading the label for the Molded Samples in Unlocking an Art Deco Bedroom by Joseph Urban.

These Molded Samples were produced from urethane plastic in 2021. They were created by R. Mark Adams, an American born in 1950. 

The bands of inlay and fluted elements on the dressing table and occasional table were created using Pyralin, an early plastic made by DuPont. Pyralin could be dyed any number of colors. Urban used it to mimic the look of ivory, a material frequently used to embellish luxury French Art Deco furniture. Because Pyralin has proven chemically and structurally unstable over time, the museum’s team chose to use a more inert urethane plastic that could be dyed to color match and poured in a mold when recreating examples of the Wormser Bedroom furniture.

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