AGNES PINDER DAVIS (1895-1973) FOR JAMES TEMPLETON & CO. LTD
CARPET FOR RMS QUEEN MARY
Estimate: £1,500 - £2,000
Auction: 26 June 2025 from 14:00 BST
Description
designed circa 1936
wool
reverse stencil printed QM B122
Dimensions
229 x 149cm
Footnote
James Templeton & Co. Ltd were tasked with the interior decoration of the Queen Mary and commissioned the artist Duncan Grant to design a carpet. However, his design was rejected as too modern and Agnes Pinder Davis was selected as his replacement. While this carpet was for a cabin, Davis was also responsible for designing the main lounge carpet. She herself was an interior designer, who also worked for Royal Doulton and Crown Staffordshire on ceramic wares, and designed a number of book covers. The other ocean liners she was involved with working on were the Queen Elizabeth, Mauretania II and Caronia.
SS Normandie vs RMS Queen Mary was one of the greatest shipping rivalries of all time. The Normandie went into service in 1935 and made a record-breaking crossing of the Atlantic powered by turbo electric transmission. The distinctive bow was emphasised by Mouran in the publicity posters he was commissioned to design.
The Queen Mary, acclaimed for being the largest passenger vessel ever built, entered service the year after the Normandie then quickly secured the title for fastest crossing of the Atlantic. The French made alterations to the Normandie and the Blue Riband was reclaimed in 1937, but this was short lived. The Queen Mary resecured it the following year and held the record until 1952, largely due to the interruption of the Second World War.