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Object Timeline

  • We acquired this object.

-0001

1937

  • Work on this object began.

2014

2025

  • You found it!

Sketches For Comb Designs (USA)

This is a Sketches for Comb Designs. It was made by Earl Silas Tupper. It is dated March 1937. Its medium is ink on paper.

These sketches for various hair combs, each slightly different in size, color, style, and functionality, demonstrate prolific inventor Earl S. Tupper’s attention to detail and his interest in considering multiple approaches. Famous for inventing Tupperware, the inventor captured not only the idea but also his entire methodology in his sketching notebooks. With each invention, he dated it; noted it in a diary/notebook; began a folder on it as work starts; placed all bills, letters, and sketches relating to it in the folder; and made an outline of progress for each one.

It is credited Earl S. Tupper Papers, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, 1992.3213.

Our curators have highlighted 10 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:

  • Comb
  • shaped, carved and pierced tortoiseshell.
  • Bequest of Mrs. John Innes Kane.
  • 1926-22-545
  •

Its dimensions are

H x W (drawing): 27.9 x 21.6 cm (11 in. x 8 1/2 in.)

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Tools: Extending Our Reach.

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If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-4.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/51682571/ |title=Sketches For Comb Designs (USA) |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=10 March 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>