The London red Routemaster buses are infamous; the driver sat in the front half-cab totally separated from the passenger cabin and the conductor stood at the rear, open platformed entrance, selling tickets and dinging the bell. As a little kid, I used to go to school on a bus like this; I recall that leap of faith onto the open platform, often after it had left the stop! Modern Routemasters replaced the originals, but I spotted this original on route 15, near Tower Bridge. I also have a family connection to these big red buses; after the war, my grandad used to drive one and my great uncle used to maintain them, saving small and large spare steel ball bearings for us to play marbles with as kids (and also teaching me about atoms and molecules with them too)! If you look closely, you’ll see that this piece is made from old newspapers; I tried doing paper marquetry with newspapers (I’m not in a rush to repeat the experience again; newspaper doesn’t cut cleanly, it’s a nightmare to work with). Each part of the bus is made of pieces of carefully cut (and often re-cut!) painted newspaper, which has been shaped, inlaid and slotted together to fit like a tightly fitting mosaic or tiled floor. The whole bus is inlaid into an acrylic ink diffused background, emulating the greys of the splashed puddles on the city streets of London and skies above.
Red Routemaster Bus Coaster
Product Code: 1805-90CO
Artify your morning cuppa, workplace brew or evening tipple! This glossy hardboard coaster has been reproduced from one of my original recycled and textured inlaid paper marquetry pieces featuring an old red bus on the streets of London. Inspired from what I see in my garden, on my field work, travels and from life experiences, I work only from photographs that I have taken or sketches that I have made in the field. This coaster will withstand the hottest of brews or the coldest of cocktails and is easy to care for; simply wipe it clean with a cloth.
Ideal for: Anyone who loves British icons, London, buses, UK, travel, collecting coasters, art.
Coasters are made from a combination of 90% hardboard with 10% sawmill wood fibre waste making them very sturdy and robust. Finished with a stunning glossy coating, slightly bevelled edges and rounded corners, these coasters are easy care; simply wipe them clean with a damp cloth to keep them looking brand new! Recyclable. Coasters are sold individually (unless specified as part of a collection) and are boxed in a plain brown postal box for shipping. Coasters are not gift boxed unless this option has been selected.
90x90mm (approximately 3.54x3.54”) & about 3.4mm (0.13”) thick.
Buy 4 or more single coasters and receive a bulk buy discount
Buy 4 or more coasters and receive a discount per coaster. The coasters can be of any design, so you can mix and match as many different coaster designs as you want. Your discount will be applied on the Checkout page. Offer does not apply to sets of 4 as the discount has already been applied to them.