Name/Title
Placemat: Early Lighting, Electro-Motive Division of General MotorsDescription
A four-color silkscreen print on natural linen depicting over a dozen early American lighting fixtures. The major forms of lighting are illustrated: pine knots and rush lights, oil burning lanterns and lamps, grease burning betty lamps, and candles.
The Country Prints product tag states, “Designed by Robert Darr Wert for Electro-Motive Division of General Motors” (producer of electric locomotive train engines). These placemat sets were produced as executive gifts for an event at their annual convention. Wert executed at least three commissions for Electro-Motive’s annual conventions: two sets of placemats featuring early lighting fixtures, and a set of three tiles illustrating Boston landmarks and their lighting fixtures produced in 1958. This is likely the third of the three commissions and was produced in 1959.
Edges are straight-stitched and fringed.Made/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Robert Darr WertRole
ArtistManufacturer
Country PrintsDate made
1959Time Period
20th CenturyPlace
Location
Gill MA.Continent
North AmericaInscription/Signature/Marks
“wert by hand”, lower right cornerMaterial
Unbleached Linen, Textile InkColor
Brick Red, Brown, Teal, Black
