These tablemats complement the large collection of photographs and much smaller collection of emphemera related to Hedda Morrison (1908-1991).

Hedda Morrison was born in Stuttgart, Germany and spent most of her working life in Asia. She travelled extensively through China and Sarawak photographing the people, cultures and environments. She moved to China in 1933 and lived there until 1947, meeting her husband Alastair in 1940 and marrying in 1946. After leaving China they lived in Hong Kong for 6 months and then moved to Sarawak in the north-west of Borneo, where Alastair was appointed to the British Colonial Service and lated became a district officer. The Morrisons lived in Sarawak until 1967 when they moved to Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.

These mats were made by local embroiderers in Peking between 1938 and 1940 while Hedda was working for Caroline Bieber, a dealer who had the mats embroidered and the designs adapted for the Western market. They reflect Hedda's interest in arts and crafts as evidenced by her detailed photography of local workshops in Peking. Hedda's local knowledge and ability to negotiate with Chinese vendors and craftspeople was useful in her work for Bieber and this in turn provided further contacts for her photographic studies.

From 1938-1940 Hedda Morrison was employed by Caroline Francis Bieber, a well to do British woman. Bieber lived in Beiheyan and operated as a dealer, seeking out Chinese arts and crafts objects that could be adapted for Western consumption and purchasing Chinese decorative arts. Hedda's knowledge and her ability to negotiate with Chinese vendors and craftpeople was useful for her work with Bieber. These placemats were acquired by Hedda at this time from local embroiderers she had organised to work for Caroline Bieber.

These mats were possibly used by the donor home as there are food stains on them.

Tablemats (8), embroidered cotton, maker unknown, Peking, China, 1938-1940

Eight matching cotton tablemats with hand embroidered cross-stitch designs in three different patterns. The designs include figures, trees, birds, vases of flowers and lanterns and are rendered in black, red and green cotton thread. The mats are hemmed.

Made: Peking, China; 1938 - 1940


Used: Morrison, Hedda; China

Used: Morrison, Hedda; Australia

See parts for details.

2004/1/1

1938 - 1940