UNITED KINGDOM - NOVEMBER 15: Showcase looking at the birth of plastics. 1985-95. Showcase looking at the birth of plastics, focussing largely an ink stand made from Gutta percha, a semi-synthetic plastic made from natural rubber, and other objects made from cellulose (such as two white collars). Plastics can usually be drawn back to the development of celluloid and Parkesine in the 1860s, and there are many interesting objects which were made from these. New synthetic plastics such as Bakelite were developed at the beginning of the 20th century. As displayed in the Plastics gallery (1985-1995). (Photo by Science & Society Picture Library/SSPL/Getty Images)
