Description :

1970s–80s Dickens & Postcarriage Cork Coaster England Series

This collection features a mixed group of laminated cork coasters printed with narrative illustrations. Most originate from England and portray scenes taken from Charles Dickens’ novels—including Nicholas Nickleby, David Copperfield, Great Expectations, and The Pickwick Papers. Titles such as “The Election at Eatanswill” and “Pip and Estella in the Inn Yard” reflect fictional environments rendered in mid-century decor style. Others depict postal history and transport such as hackney carriages and mail coaches from towns like Horsham and London. Most carry green-bordered designs with gold trim and branding by “Pimpernel Made in England.” Additional pieces marked “Rambrandt Made in Portugal” and “Wadebridge Made in England” suggest cross-manufacturer contributions. Produced during the 1970s to 1980s, these coasters combine cultural nostalgia with industrial souvenir manufacturing common to post-war Western domestic markets.

Between the 1970s and 1980s, British and Portuguese homeware producers capitalized on literary and transport heritage themes, adapting 19th-century scenes into functional household items. The rise of laminated cork coasters served both decorative and utilitarian roles as middle-class homes sought durable, printed accessories. Dickensian revival motifs reflected a broader fascination with Victorian England during this period, blending fictional and historical iconography for export and local sale.