Design

This is a design for a mat to be manufactured from coir. Coir is a coarse fibre found between the husk and the outer shell of the coconut. It is often used to make products such as matting and ropes. The raw material had been used for centuries in the East, but only in the late 19th century did it begin to established its presence in the West often as a household product such as a mat. Initially, European business men set up businesses in Kerala, India. Centred around the town of Alleppey, the first factory was established in 1859. Other American and European investors followed, whilst Indian companies, such as S. Pitchu Iyer and Co., were also quick to see the potential. It is likely that t

Design · Kerala · c.1920. watercolour on paper. By Unknown. Victoria and Albert Museum, London.