Dodo Coaster
Indulge in the harmonious blend of art and utility with our Dodo 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 Dodos, 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 Dodo drinks mats.
Beautiful Dodo Coasters
Our Dodo 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 Dodo (Latin name: Raphus cucullatus), 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 Dodo design pairs historical illustration with a practical, everyday object, bringing a piece of 18th Century natural history art into daily use.
Dodo Coaster Specifications
The Dodo 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 Dodo watercolour painting by Charles Collins, which is sealed with a gloss finish, which protects the artwork and keeps it vibrant and fresh.
The Dodo Coaster are created using a dye sublimation print process, which gives each coaster a crisp and vibrant image of the Dodo.
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 Dodo
Our Dodo 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 Dodo was among the works Collins produced for White.
The original Dodo watercolour is finely painted, with remarkable detail, allowing the plumage and features of the Dodo 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 Dodo, 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 Dodo
The Dodo (Raphus cucullatus) was endemic to Mauritius and, despite its reputation, belonged to the pigeon family. Flightless, ground-nesting and unafraid of people, it was recorded by Dutch sailors in 1598 and gone within a lifetime, the last widely accepted sighting falling in 1662. Introduced pigs, rats and macaques taking eggs from forest-floor nests did more damage than hunting alone.
Charles Collins painted this watercolour in 1736, some seventy years after the bird was last seen, working from earlier depictions and surviving accounts rather than from life. It forms part of the Taylor White Collection, a body of 18th Century natural history watercolours commissioned by Taylor White and now held by McGill University Library.
Production & Delivery
All Dodo 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 Dodo Coaster will take 5-7 working days. It will then be despatched to you, arriving approximately 24-48 hours later.
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