Commissioned placemat set for the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors.
PKM collection. Images: PKM
Name/Title
Placemat: Early Lighting, Electro-Motive Division of General Motors
Description
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.
