Pimpernel Placemats Embroidery Birds Insects Plants Grace Christie

Set of 4, Pimpernel brand, 16" x 12", cork-backed, hard surface placemats with a pattern of a sample embroidery piece created in 1914 by Grace Christie which is now part of the Victoria & Albert Museum Collection, London. The set is in excellent condition, with minimal wear and with original pimpernel stickers on the cork back. Pimpernel is the original, cork, hard back printed placemat developed in the 1950s in England are covered with a stain, heat and water resistant clear surface, great for eating at a table or for enjoying nibbles from your lap. Still being produced today, the placemats were developed as an off-shoot of the Pimpernel coaster business that started in the 1930s. Cheaper furniture was being produced for the masses and most wood pieces were finished in shellac, which is not heat and water resistant, a need for mats arose. Pimpernel took note of this and expanded its coaster production to include protective mats which were coated in tougher cellulose and finished with green baize. Pictures were added to mats starting in 1954. The motif on these placemats comes from Grace Christie (1872-1953), an early 20th century embroidery specialist and teacher in the field at the Royal College of Art, wrote several books on the history and techniques of embroidery and is considered to have been the foremost expert in the field. The lovely sampler shown on these 15 3/4" by 11 3/4", corked back and laminated placemats, show snapshot scenes of birds, plants, flowers, and insects in soft colors on a raw linen ground and separated by an interesting trellis-like framework and rendered using various embroidery techniques. A nice set to enhance a spring or summer table, indoors or out!

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