Grenfell Pictorial Hooked Mat with Polar Bears and Puffin

Description:

Grenfell Pictorial Hooked Mat with Polar Bears and Puffin, Newfoundland and Labrador, early 20th century, rectangular mat composed of silk, cotton, and rayon jersey strips, depicting two polar bears on an iceberg, a flying puffin, and background water and mountainous terrain, shaded brown and black border, (some staining),18 1/2 x 28 1/2 in.

Provenance: This story of acquisition was provided by the consignor. When I arrived at the Labrador Salmon Lodge located on the Forteau River, July 4, 2000, I noticed a Grenfell mat hanging on the dining room wall. I inquired about it from the owner who told me "it had been at the Lodge since he and his wife bought it in 1989. The lodge was 50 years old. I asked if they would sell it or trade for a very nice SAGE fly rod. He and his wife had a brief business meeting in the kitchen and her decision was to take the fair amount of US cash I had offered. As I was taking down the Grenfell just before leaving for the states, the lodge's cook, whose name was Ivy, came out of the kitchen and told me the following story: When she was a little girl, her mother would hook Grenfell mats at night by lamp or candle light. How this Grenfell ended up on the wall of the Salmon Labrador Lodge ( without the typical Grenfell label attached),I found very interesting. Apparently Ivy's mother had hooked a number of mats and sold them to the Grenfell organization for little or nothing for her labor. Somehow she became aware of what the Grenfell Industries were retailing them for and became so upset that when she completed this particular mat, she refused to sell it to them and never did another one. She must have sold it to the lodge owners at that time.
Estimate $400-600

1/2 in. dia. light stain between the two polar bears' heads, and several light small scattered stains.

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