One of a collection of fourteen items of clothing and household textiles donated by Lisa Sylvan, a long-term resident of Kew, Five of the items are homemade aprons made and worn by her mother. Of the seven pinafores, three identical but differently sized pinafores were made in her parents' factory, while the other three are handmade. The handmade aprons and pinafores are representative samples of women's work, often using commercial or patterns using fabrics originally deigned for dresses. Typically the examples, contrasting fabrics and colours were selected to provide visual interest. The donation also includes a hand embroidered linen hand towel and a commercially produced 'birds of Australia' printed table cloth. Most of the collection derives from the 1950s.Cream linen hand towel, bordered at each end with bands of mustrad yellow linen. The towel is embroidered with a picture of a woman in period dress collecting flowers from a garden.lisa sylvan, household linen, supper cloths, fancy work

The fringed tablecloth is an example of a domestic item brought to Australia by early settlers in the Western District of Victoria as a home comfort.The fringed tablecloth helps tell the story of the arrival of European settlers and the small, light home comforts they brought with them to maintain a meaningful connection to home.Fringed and lined square tablecloth. The front is hand embroidered on brown loose weave fabric, the back a pale yellow polished cotton fabric. The edges on the back have been turned and machine stitched. Hand-stitching has been used to join the top to the back and to add the fringe around the edges. The embroidery uses tapestry wool in cream, yellow, brown and green tones. The style is possibly an example of European folk style embroidery. An inscription on a pink ribbon is sewn onto the reverse.“S F . 31303 OLIVER - - [undecipherable]”flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime museum & village, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, tablecloth, fringed tablecloth, embroidered tablecloth, european embroidery, hand sewing, domestic object, handmade, textile, silk thread, geometric design, vintage, long-stitch, zigzag design, decorative, home décor, domestic linen, table linen

Doll maker Kammer and Reinhard bisque doll heads and bodies were designed by them, but most heads were manufactured by Simon & Halbig which is why heads bear both marks.Kammer and Reinhardt porcelain and cloth baby doll mould number 116A circa 1912. She has a porcelain head, forearms and lower legs and feet. The rest of her body is a stuffed material calico. Her legs are jointed at the knees. She is dressed in a long sleeved, extended christening like robe of cream broderie anglaise. The robe has decorative pintucking and lace on the bodice, sleeves, cuffs and skirt with a contrasting broderie anglaise hem. Part of a lace insert has become unstitched at the front. Underneath is a full petticoat of white cotton with pintucking and lace with a white broderie anglaise hem. Another full length petticoat of cream linen trimmed with lace is also underneath. She has a cream knitted singlet and knickers with cream knitted bootees. She has short blonde matted hair and wears a lace trimmed broderie anglaise bonnet with satin ribbons to match her robe.Initials K and R either side of a Star of David and the words Simon and Halbig below with the mould no 116/Atoys, dolls, porcelain

Drawn thread was an embroidery technique that appeared in the 17th century. In the late 19th and early 20th century it was used on linen and cotton to create decorative functional items such as this tablecloth. The item is of significance socially as an example of a decorative domestic object from the early 1900s. It is a fine example of drawn thread embroidery.Handmade decorative tablecloth created from soft white linen. A crochet lace edge decorates the outer edge of the tablecloth and drawn thread work has been used to create two large inner borders as well as fine edging borders.flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, tablecloth, linen, crochet lace, drawn thread work, textile, domestic object, decorative lace edging

Tablecloths were used to protect the table from damage when in use with cutlery, chinaware and general use. More decorative white cloths were used for special occasions and to show general position in society or wealth. The trousseau of a young woman in the 1900's consisted essentially of how many tablecloths she had collected - her dowry in many ways showed the more linen she had the wealthier she was. Included were napkins, bed linens, tea towels and various cloths for every household function and were to sustain the bride and her future family throughout their lifetime together.A white lace rectangular tablecloth with a floral pattern and wide scalloped edge.tablecloths, cloths, table linen, household textiles

Believed to have been made by Tilly Aston, this tray cloth is an example of the type of skills the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind school taught its female students. Handicrafts was a possible method of income, and the emphasis was on producing usable pieces rather than highly decorative ones. It is a rectangular shaped tray cloth made from cotton and silk thread. The centre piece is cream coloured and consists of 2 layers of pulled thread work The cloth is edged with a beige coloured lace border. Linen cloth with crocheted edgingtilly aston, royal victorian institute for the blind

In the early 19th century, infant baptismal gowns were modelled on dresses worn by adult women. Gowns were typically made of fine white linen or cotton, and often trimmed with tucks, lace, whitework embroidery, and other handwork. The Kew Historical Society's collection includes over fifteen christening gowns dating from the 19th and 20th centuries.A white cotton and lace christening gown. The primary decorative elements of the gown are at the front which includes multiple layers of lace on net that extend from the neck to the hemline, which are then bordered with ruffles of the same lace. The bodice has a high neck, bordered with lace, and two short sleeves.christening gowns, ceremonial clothing, children's wear, baptismal clothing, victorian historical themes — 8.6 marking the phases of life

In the early 19th century, infant baptismal gowns were modelled on dresses worn by adult women. Gowns were typically made of fine white linen or cotton, and often trimmed with tucks, lace, whitework embroidery, and other handwork. The Kew Historical Society's collection includes over fifteen christening gowns dating from the 19th and 20th centuries.Simple fine, white cotton petticoat used underneath an outer christening gown. The petticoat uses the same silhouette as the gown. The sleeveless bodice is held up by shoestring straps at the shoulder. Gathered fabric at the waist creates volume as an undergarment. Six bands of decorative horizontal pleating are used in the lowest section of the skirt as well as a scalloped hem.christening gowns, ceremonial clothing, children's wear, baptismal clothing, victorian historical themes — 8.6 marking the phases of life

In the early 19th century, infant baptismal gowns were modelled on dresses worn by adult women. Gowns were typically made of fine white linen or cotton, and often trimmed with tucks, lace, whitework embroidery, and other handwork. The Kew Historical Society's collection includes over fifteen christening gowns dating from the 19th and 20th centuries.A long, white cotton christening gown designed and made using a number of decorative elements. These include an embroidered lace v-shaped insert at the front of the bodice that extends below the waist. Bands and layers of lace are also used at the neck and on the double-panelled sleeves. A broad band of lace has been used to form the waist, below which the fabric of the skirt is very finely gathered. The front of the skirt includes thirty-two horizontal pleated bands. christening gowns, ceremonial clothing, children's wear, baptismal clothing, victorian historical themes — 8.6 marking the phases of life

In the early 19th century, infant baptismal gowns were modelled on dresses worn by adult women. Gowns were typically made of fine white linen or cotton, and often trimmed with tucks, lace, whitework embroidery, and other handwork. The Kew Historical Society's collection includes over fifteen christening gowns dating from the 19th and 20th centuries.Long, white cotton christening gown. The high necked, short sleeved bodice has a number of decorative elements. These include two panels of fabric, the lower of which includes pleating, and inserts of lace that extend beyond the waist. Ties extend from the front to the back of the bodice. Lace is also used on the neckline and on the edge of the folded sleeves. The skirt is pleated at the front extending to the hem.christening gowns, ceremonial clothing, children's wear, baptismal clothing, victorian historical themes — 8.6 marking the phases of life

Textiles. Large pieces of linen, 119 cm x 96 cm edged with a border, 8.5 cm deep of cotton lace, matching the lace of the bedspread. This lace has a corded effect, outlining 'finger shapes' of floral pattern, alternating with an open chain stitch, looped effect. Like the bedspread, the pillowcase is embroidered with the initials in satin stitch and some cut work embroidery. A smaller rectangle of linen fabric is stitched to the back of the fabric, to hold a pillow in place. Measuring 81 cm. x 48 cm. This envelope is tied with three ties of cotton tape. It could be presumed that these pillow slips would be a decorative feature of the bed linen. As on the bedspread, lavishly embroidered initials may be the initials of Caterina (Ina) Lamaro, who married Giovanni (Jack) Favaloro, or Caterina (Kitty) Lopes, who married Salvatore (Salve) Favaloro.textiles, domestic, two embroidered and lace pillow cases

Textiles. Very fine linen, white in colour - (now a soft cream colour). A spoke-stitched hem stitched to join a decorative panel at the opening end. This panel forms two gracious curves, where the initials C F have been embroidered and decorated with a curvaceous three segment clover leaf. A 10 cm deep crochet frill finishes the curves. The initials C F may be those of Caterina Lamaro who married Giovanni Favaloro, or those of Caterina Lopes who married Salvatore Favaloro. A linen fabric ''envelope'' has been formed by folding the fabric and stitching one side seam. Lace frill has been machine stitched to curved edge.textiles, domestic, pair of embroidered lace pillow cases

Textiles. Very fine linen fabric, white in colour, now a soft cream colour. A spoke-stitched hem joins a curved embroidered and lace trim decorative feature to the set. This panel forms two deep curves, where the initials CF are embroidered, and decorated with small daisy-like flowers and leaves. A 10 cm deep crochet frill is gathered and machine stitched along the curved edge. The initials CF may be the initials of Caterina Lamaro, who married Giovanni Favaloro or those of Caterina Lopes, who married Salvatore Favaloro.textiles, domestic, embroidered lace edged pr of pillowcases

Textiles. Cream linen fabric, with a selvedge edge on each side. Three bands of drawn thread work at each end-a centre band 2.5 cm wide, and stitched to form a decorative pattern, and two bands, 1 cm wide-one on either side of the wider band. These are edged with a spoke stitch, which draws the thread into little ''bar shapes" - 3 to each centimeter. A 4.5 cm wide band of fillet crochet and a 20 cm long fringe, edges each end.textiles, domestic, linen tablecloth or table centre