Very Rare Vintage Folly Cove Designers Elizabeth Holloran Set of 4 Unused SUGARBUSH Placemats Signed by Artist

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Description: Vintage set of 4 placemats featuring the hand-carved linocut block print designed and printed by Elizabeth Holloran, 1917-2009. The print features red images in three horizntal rows with white background. First row: Maple Trees with taps. Second Row: Workers harvesting the sap with buckets and shoulder wooden yoke with two buckets attached. Third Row: Worker pouring sap into large wooden barrel, large Maple Tree, and Sugar Shack with firewood outside and plume of smoke.

From the CapeAnnMuseum.org website:
"FOLLY COVE DESIGNERS
The Folly Cove Designers were a group of 45 designer-craftsmen who worked together between 1938 and 1969 under the leadership of children's book author and illustrator Virginia Lee Burton Demetrios. They produced carefully wrought designs cut into linoleum blocks and printed (primarily) on fabric. Their common interest was in producing solid designs and in good craftsmanship.
Elizabeth Holloran
1917 - 2009
(Sarah) Elizabeth Holloran (1917–2009) was born in Gloucester to John A. and Cora (Ferguson) Johnson. She studied fashion design and illustration at the Vesper George School of Art in Boston and graduated in 1940. In 1942, she married Robert Holloran and they had two children, Elizabeth and Timothy. From 1942 through 1945, Holloran worked as the children’s librarian at the Sawyer Free Library in Gloucester. She joined the Folly Cove Designers after seeing a block printed skirt in a Cape Ann store window with an advertisement for Demetrios’ design classes. In 1974 she opened her own block printing shop in Rockport. After her death the Sarah Elizabeth Shop was kept in operation by Isabel Natti, niece of Folly Cove Designer Eino Natti. Following Isabel Natti’s death in 2011, Cape Ann resident Julia Garrison took over the Shop, printing her own designs on Eino Natti’s Acorn press—the same press that was used by the Designers in their barn in Folly Cove—keeping alive the spirit of the Folly Cove Designers and block printing."

This artwork "SUGARBUSH" was originally designed by her in 1961, and after the group disbanded she opened her own shop in 1974 and kept printing until 2009. Thus because she kept printing, these placemats could have been produced anytime from 1961-2009, when she passed away. Her printed items are very rare, and difficult to find. Individual pieces are sold from $850 and up. Thus the true auction cost could be $3400.00 or more for a set of four. Because the original price is listed on the card and is very low, I believe and was told that these placemats are from the 1960s or 1970s, making them early pieces and rare in this condition.

Condition: Almost perfect: one small red stain on fringe (top middle of second placemat: see last photo). Otherwise Inka cotton fabric is color is very bright white, and red is very bright. Some red pigment spots exist on each of the placemats, as was common with handblocked linoleum prints. The fringe is very straight and the items are unwashed and unused. There are fold lines which can be gently steamed out, but I am posting as found. I purchased at an estate sale 20 years ago, and the items were folded, wrapped in tissue paper, and stored in a box. I have never removed the safety pin, which is pierced through a punched out hole in the card, keeping all placemats together. Thus the items wil be shipped with original folds as found.

Authenticity: The Folly Cove Designers card is still attached with a small silver safety pin in the top left corner, and is signed and titled by the artist in blue inkpen: "SUGARBUSH" Eliabeth Holloran. The card has the print number and original price in pencil also.

Size: Each mat is approximately 13 by 19 inches.

NOTE: These items will ship wrapped in new tissue paper, with silica gel desiccants, and supported with new cardboard back and front and stabilized. I will pay for the shipping to you in the USA, with Priority Mail and insurance. See below for inernational shipping guidelines, which is not included in the cost.

NOTE: International shipping is available, however Import duties, taxes and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer’s responsibility. Please check with your country’s customs office to determine approximate charges. Please provide your phone number to add to the package customs forms.

NOTE: No Return or Refund on this one of a kind specialty item.

SENDING AS A GIFT? Request free gift wrap + card with your special messge. (white tissue, red/white string and contemporary card with your special message to recipient). Please include your message in the note to seller section or convo me right after purchasing.

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