Tablemats

According to Star Wars lore, there are actually about 25 people who stole the plans and got them to Princess Leia's ship and because of the Lucasfilm command that all computer games, novels and probably commemorative tablemats are canon, there are fairly convoluted hoops to jump through to explain how they all did so simultaneously. ❋ Adam Whitehead (2009)

The covering of oil-flasks, sewed together with strong thread, and lined and bound neatly, makes useful tablemats. ❋ Lydia Maria Francis Child (1841)

Meals became formal, with Constable tablemats, separate butter knives and jam spoons. ❋ Unknown (2010)

Visiting the local villages is also now actively encouraged, as we discover when we are taken on an afternoon trip to Gadhdhoo, where hand-weaving straw tablemats and fishing offer the only alternative employment to the hotel and tourist sector. ❋ Mariella Frostrup (2010)

Tablecloths are rather out of fashion these days (probably because it's far easier to wipe wine off bare wood), but if you have a nice one, it's worth getting it out for such a special occasion - put some felt or tablemats beneath for hot dishes, try and align the crease ❋ Unknown (2009)

Shopping is a joy here - casualwear, shell jewellery, tablemats, beaded slippers (which we discovered were a fraction of the price in Kuta!), Balinese paintings and wood carvings.

Singh, 23, and Bhola, 22, are customers at India’s first "Condom Bar" in the northern city of Chandigarh where tablemats have messages such as: "Get It On!" ❋ Unknown (2007)