Tea Plate, Bandalasta Ware

This Bandalasta tea plate was intended for use on the Royal Airship Works’ trial trips out of Cardington, before the R.101’s disastrous crash halted airship production in Britain.

Bandalasta is a mouldable plastic, made from a white synthetic resin developed by Beetl Products Co. and used to produce colourful tableware by Brookes & Adams Ltd. in the 1920s. Widely marketed towards picnickers as a durable alternative to porcelain, the lightweight material was ideally suited to airship travel, where minimising tonnage was a priority. Objects in the set include a teacup and saucer, a fruit plate, and an egg cup, complete with a detachable base for easy stowage!