Curlew Coaster
Indulge in the harmonious blend of art and utility with our Curlew Bird Coaster, a unique masterpiece inspired by the 18th Century watercolour painter, Charles Collins. More than a simple drinks mat, this product is a canvas showcasing the delicate charm of a pair of Curlews, immortalized by Collins’ skilful brushstrokes.
The visual elegance of this historical reproduction accentuates every sip you take. Its vibrant hues and intricate details offer a sublime visual experience, while its high-quality construction ensures protection of your surfaces. Experience a touch of nature’s beauty, coupled with the sophistication of the 18th Century art, right at your dining table or in your drawing room with our Curlew drinks mats.
Beautiful Curlew Coasters
Our Curlew Coaster brings the artistry of the 18th Century to everyday use. Each design reproduces a watercolour by c.1680 - 1744 - one of the period's most accomplished natural history painters, chosen from the Taylor White Collection for its fine detail and colour.
This design features Collins's portrayal of the Curlew (Latin name: Numenius arquata), reproduced with close attention to the original watercolour's brushwork, colour and composition. The result is a coaster that carries genuine artistic detail rather than a simplified print.
Beyond their appearance, these coasters are built for daily use. The surface protects furniture from heat, condensation and drink rings, so the artwork earns its place on the table without compromising on function.
Part of the Taylor White Collection, this Curlew design pairs historical illustration with a practical, everyday object, bringing a piece of 18th Century natural history art into daily use.
Curlew Coaster Specifications
The Curlew Coaster are made from 4mm thick medium-density fibreboard with a protective cork base to help protect your surfaces. The top surface of the coasters is printed with the reproduction of the Curlew watercolour painting by Charles Collins, which is sealed with a gloss finish, which protects the artwork and keeps it vibrant and fresh.
The Curlew Coaster are created using a dye sublimation print process, which gives each coaster a crisp and vibrant image of the Curlew.
The coasters are available in sets of two or six mats.
- Available in sets of 2 or 6 drinks mats.
- Dimensions: 10cm x 10cm (4 inches x 4 inches).
- Materials: Cork and wood.
- Rounded corners.
- Superb print quality and vibrancy.
- Protective cork backing.
The Taylor White Collection's 18th Century Watercolour Painting of the Curlew
Our Curlew comes from the original collection of Taylor White F.R.S. (1701-1772). In the mid-18th Century, White commissioned the celebrated wildlife painter Charles Collins (c.1680 - 1744) to paint a number of specimens for his collection. The watercolour of the Curlew was among the works Collins produced for White.
The original Curlew watercolour is finely painted, with remarkable detail, allowing the plumage and features of the Curlew to be seen in stunning clarity. This depth of colour and detail has been captured brilliantly through the digitisation process and is replicated here for your home or office decor, or as a thoughtful gift.
Taylor White, a barrister by profession and later Puisne Judge for Chester, was a keen naturalist and Fellow of the Royal Society, elected in 1725. Over nearly forty years from the 1730s until his death in 1772, he commissioned 938 watercolours of birds, mammals, fish and reptiles, including the Curlew, now held at McGill University and painted almost entirely by two artists, Charles Collins and Peter Paillou. White was a founding governor of The Foundling Hospital in London and served as its treasurer for the last twenty-five years of his life. His well-connected social and scientific circle gave his artists exceptional access to specimens: his second wife, Frances Armstrong, was the daughter of General John Armstrong, Governor of the Tower of London and Chief Royal Engineer, and White's artists painted the lions, wolves and other animals of the Royal Menagerie there. He also borrowed specimens from the British Museum, and received rare and exotic birds from friends, including the naturalist Joseph Banks, who sailed to Newfoundland in 1766, and William Harrison, who brought back specimens from voyages testing his father's marine chronometer.
About The Curlew
The Curlew, or Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata), is the largest European wading bird, known for its long, downward-curving bill and evocative, bubbling call. This 18th Century watercolour by Charles Collins, part of the Taylor White Collection, captures a species that breeds on upland moorland before moving to estuaries and coastal wetlands to overwinter, probing soft mud for worms, molluscs and crustaceans. Its numbers have declined in recent decades, making this a valuable historic record of a now vulnerable species.
Production & Delivery
All Curlew Coaster orders are produced in the United Kingdom and are currently only available to be shipped to a UK postal address.
From the point of order, the production of your Curlew Coaster will take 5-7 working days. It will then be despatched to you, arriving approximately 24-48 hours later.
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