STAMPED LINEN, MAT

The design stamped on linen celebrates the centenary of the establishment of the Swan River Colony in 1829. The circular mat with 6 scallop edge has a central motif of a black swan with small Geraldton wax flowers on the opposite side.
In Perth in the first half of the 20th century, evenweave linen fabrics were very rare, design and pattern books few and far between. Thus stamped linens/cottons were one of the few household articles available for the lady of the house to stitch.
Patterns for household linen, mass produced by Semco, MyArt, and Deighton were often published in women's magazines such as Australiann Home Journal, The Weekly Times and the Australian Woman's Weekly and offered as a mail service to women in country areas. Patriotic themes as well as Australian flora and fauna were popular at this time.