Cork Drink Coaster Sets with Holder by Mainstream Source
Our double-sided coasters are festive conversation pieces for any occasion! With a sustainable cork upside that absorbs condensation and a colorful backside with a water-resistant finish, these coasters are the perfect addition to your coffee table or any surface that could use some extra protection.
Retro Album-Style Coasters
Our classic vintage looking coasters come in a set of 8, containing 4 aqua and 4 burgundy “Greatest Sips” coasters with a stainless-steel black holder. Our unique design on the burgundy coaster features famous drinking phrases, and the aqua coaster features inspirational quotes reminiscent of song titles, sure to help “break the ice”!
The Record as Part of our Culture
Ever since Thomas Edison invented the phonograph in 1877 and then in 1890 when Emile Berliner pressed the first disc, the record album has been ingrained into our culture; from the old 78-RPM heavy Victrola discs, through the 45-RPM “singles” to the 33-1/3 RPM albums, the analog sound of a crispy record became the soundtrack to our lives.
CD’s were literally invented to look like record albums so the general public would accept the new technology, and even though we moved on to downloading and streaming platforms later, true music aficionados still love the warm sound of an analog record over digital recordings. In fact, digital recording software now has “plug-ins” that producers use to emulate the analog sound of a record.
Impressionist Series Coasters
Our Impressionist-Series Coasters also come in a set of 8, with 2-each of 4 total lovely artworks reminiscent of the paintings of Claude Monet. These elegant coasters exude class and style, and they are soothing and pleasing to look at.
The Impressionist Era
We chose impressionist art for these coasters because it is considered one of the more recent trends considering the history of art going back 64,000 years to cave paintings! Between about 1867 and 1886 came the new renaissance of impressionist painters, including Claude Monet, Camille Pisarro and Edgar Degas.
Impressionist painters used fast, wispy brush strokes with bright colors of mostly outdoor scenes and the paintings looked clearer from further away. The best of the scenes portrayed are delightfully soothing landscapes that you feel you can stare at forever.
Organic, Eco-Friendly and Sustainable!
Our coasters are sustainable, made from all-natural, organic cork. Eco-friendly and plant-based, they are lightweight, crack-resistant, water absorbent and non-skid. Cork is also heat-resistant, providing protection from hot and cold temperatures without compromising style.
What is Cork?
Cork is not wood, it is an inert substance made from phellum, which is a layer of bark harvested primarily from the cork oak tree. Actual “cork trees” are cork-like but no useable cork can be extracted from them! The best cork comes from the cork oak tree.
Most cork in the world is harvested in Southwest Europe, primarily Portugal, and also in Northwest Africa. There are actually cork oak forests in Portugal and Spain. If cork is extracted properly, it does not damage the tree, so generally nothing is sacrificed to bring cork to the marketplace. Cork is buoyant and elastic, and it’s also fire-resistant. It has no taste, and no odors are released from cork, which makes it excellent for coasters!
A cork oak tree has to reach 25 to 30 years old before cork can be extracted, when a tree reaches around 24 inches, or 60 cm. The first time cork is extracted, it is generally poor quality, and another 9 years goes by before a higher-quality cork can be removed from the tree. People who extract the core are highly trained to not damage the tree. Extracting the cork takes a lot of force, yet the underlying skin, or phellogen, cannot be harmed or the tree will be irrevocably damaged. For this reason, cork needs to be extracted literally by hand, using a huge steel instrument, into planks, which are carried off and dried before production.
The main ingredient in cork is Suberin, which is a hydrophobic substance, meaning it repels water. In addition, it is an elastic substance, easily formed into its final shape. Cork also contains lignin and polysaccharides, along with some other extractable substances, all organic materials.
The Many Uses of Cork
Cork has been in use for over 5,000 years. Early uses were for sealing containers or use in fishing. In Ancient Greece they used it to make sandals. The Greeks also believed that cork helped in alleviating hair loss!
Cork is famously used as a stopper for wine bottles, but up until the 17th century wine makers would stuff oil-soaked rags into the top of wine bottles to seal them. The nice thing about cork is that it compresses when inserted into a wine bottle, which perfectly seals the contents, although in some cases, flaws in the cork of wine stoppers can release gasses and spoil the wine. This is why it’s important to use quality cork when using it to seal a wine bottle.
Cork is manufactured into squares and used for wall tile, which makes a great bulletin board and adds to soundproofing or insulation in buildings and recording studios. Cork works well to make gaskets for carburetors. Cork is the main ingredient in shuttlecocks for badminton. Cork is used in musical instruments, particularly in woodwind instruments like the saxophone and clarinet. Cork was used in the core of baseball bats for a time to produce more efficient hitting until it was banned in the major leagues. Cork is a natural insect repellant and it is made into hats for this purpose. If you mix cork into concrete it absorbs energy and has lower thermal conductivity. It’s also used in a similar way for bricks in home construction.
Why Cork Coasters?
Coasters are made from a myriad of materials, including cork, felt, marble, leather, acrylic, wood, silicone, diatomite, vinyl and rattan…and even cardboard or paper disposable coasters… to name a few. Each has its benefits; some are elegant, others are inexpensive and easily washable, some are hip and cool, and others can be put right back into use with a quick wipe… but experts recommend either cork or felt for overall absorption and pliability over time. Also, generally, cork and sandstone coasters are the only types that don’t easily stick to glass.
The main consideration is to find a product that you like, a product that is durable and mostly one that does the important job of protecting your valuable furniture. For this reason above all, cork is probably your best option, although you still need to be diligent to watch for excess condensation, no matter what type of coaster you use.
We’re proud to present our Mainstream Source® Cork Coaster Sets because of their quality, beauty and ease of use!
