Silk postcard from France written by unknown WW1 soldier from Milawa addressed to Mrs G Kittle/Kettle c/- Post Office Milawa. WW1 service records reveal Charles James KETTLE 29741 was born in Milawa and enlisted on 15/4/1916 aged 39 years. He embarked on the 3/10/1916 and served in France prior to being diagnosed with a tumour and whilst being repatriated home died on 10/8/1917 and was buried at sea. Listed place of association was Wangaratta. Embroidered silk postcards were first made in 1900 for the Paris Exposition. The popularity of silk postcards peaked during the First World War 1914 - 1918.They were mostly embroidered by French women in their homes and then sent to the factories for cutting and mounting on cards. Many of the cards were illustrated with patriotic symbols, flags, slogans, or sentimental texts. During the First World War, many Allied officers and soldiers based in France sent silk embroidered postcards to their loved ones back homeRectangle cream cardboard postcard with embossed border containing coloured embroidered stitch work of a basket and in words “forget me not” on silk Handwritten inside - just a souvenir of your beloved France from one of the boys from Milawa addressed to Mrs G Kettle/Kittle Post Office Milawa via Wangaratta Victoria embroidered postcard, ww1, milawa

In the nineteenth century, Australian interiors reflected European styles and models. In the second half of the century opulent hanging and free-flowing curtains were augmented by elaborate pelmets, fringes, braids, and tie-backs with tassels. In wealthier homes, imported silks and bullion were the fabrics of choice. This set of curtains and curtain accessories, probably originally fromn a drawing room, are believed to have adorned a mansion in Brighton. The curtains are significant for their comparative rarity of survival in Melbourne, and at the same time, are highly representative of opulent colonial taste in interior decor in the boom period. The curtain panels are of high quality materials and in unusually good condition, indicating they were used in a window with relatively little sunlight shining on them. They can be imagined in a grand room with one or more matching dressed windows.Collection of 7 panels of a sky blue and gold figured silk/wool damask curtain set; 6 tiebacks (3 pairs) with bullion tassels; padded and braided silk "rope" for draping; and 2 cards wound with detached braids and bullion fringe from further curtains and decorations which have not survived. The items appear to be the remains of very fine bay window decoration of the later 19th century, almost certainly used in a Melbourne mansion of the boom period, likely in the 1880s. The 3 sets of curtain tiebacks are particularly grand, featuring tassels made with gold ? bullion fringe. The original bright gold ? finish is still evident in the card on which many metres of detached fringe are wound - the inner layers have been protected from oxidation by the outer layers and are still bright. It is not known on what curtain part this fringe was used (it is clear that nothing has been removed from the 7 damask panels surviving). There may have been pelmets or further sets of curtains decorated with the fringe. The materials and workmanship of all items are of high quality, and would have looked magnificent, fulfilling the tastes of the richest inhabitants of Marvellous Melbourne.curtains, curtain furnishings, 19th century, tassels, window furnishings, gold boom melbourne, interior decoration - melbourne, upholstery trimmings, colonial taste-victoria