William Gray was the President of the Whitehorse Historical Society during the 1980s and this was the property of his wife Beryl GrayDoyly. Oval, 38cm x 27cm, Needle Lace. Inner ground surrounding the flowers, is on French Argentinian ground or mesh with cotton handmade lace.manchester, table linen

On a small slip of paper is a note re general history of this edition of the English Reader 'Advanced Reader' published in England in 1873 and used by the Victorian Education Department until it began publication of its own 'Grade Readers' in the 1920s.Small book - Linen on board - binding dark red and embossed decorative border on front cover. Some gilt tooling and lettering. Cream colour lining. 400 pages, organised into five sections includes poetry and prose. Introduction by Sydney Smith.books, school/educational

Square coffee coloured doyley or table mat. Woven with over embroidery.manchester, table linen

From collection of Bette JonesSmall semi circular shaped cream linen egg cosy with cream crotched edge. A different embroidered flower design on each side. Padded cotton lining (separated)domestic items, ornaments / decorative, handcrafts, embroidery

Used by Mrs Jean Ashcroft (nee Broad) and probably worked by her. She came from Galashiels ScotlandIvory rectangular tray cloth with a knitted lace edge and drawn thread work and embroidery in ivory of four circles of flowersnonemanchester, table linen

Linen square with embroidery of Boronia in baskets. Boronia represented by various shades of very small brown beads surrounded by green embroidered leaves.manchester, bath linen, handcrafts, needlework

A fine example of Maltese Lace.Square doyley, machine made lace with cotton insert.manchester, table linen

Large white linen tea cosy cover. Blue machine embroidered blossom tree with peacock. Scalloped edge in blue hemstitched hem.domestic items, ornaments / decorative, food storage & preservation

Round white cotton doyley with deep crocheted border.manchester, table linen, handcrafts, needlework

Embroidered picture of bunch of flowers, darned embroidery on fine linen.handcrafts, embroidery, needlework

White cotton rectangular doyley edged in blue blanket stitch. Thick embroidery thread is used in flower pattern.manchester, table linen

White embroidered oval doyley. (located in pram 275 covering pillow)manchester, table linen

Hand embroiderered tea-cosy cover - white linen with fully crocheted scalloped lace edging and a mid blue embroidered design based on the Willow Pattern story.The cover is single thickness with identical design on both sides.handcrafts, embroidery, manchester, table linen

Pink napkin hand embroidered with cream silkmanchester, table linen

White cotton crocheted square doyleymanchester, table linen

Square white cotton knitted lace doyleymanchester, table linen

William Turner, a Scottish born free-lance designer, who was contracted to GP&J Baker, painted the image on which the design was based in 1918. Turner had trained as a furniture designer before leaving for London in the 1890s, where he rose to prominence as an Arts & Crafts designer. The bird that gives this design its name is adapted from Robert Havell’s ‘A Collection of Birds of Paradise’, published in 1835, and was a favourite of Victorian chintz designers.“Paradise Bird” has been in continuous production since its creation. The hand-block print, of which these curtains are an early example, was supplemented by a version engraved on copper rollers in 1962, and was updated onto screens in 1982. The curtains have significance to the collection because of their intrinsic value and for the link to one of the historic mansions in the City of Boroondara. The curtains by G.P & J Baker of London use one of the exemplary designs in this manufacturer’s output. The first use of the design was in 1918, following the Great War, and the design is said to reflect the hope for peace which was a feature of the postwar years. The curtains are an early example of the Paradise Bird design, and were block printed. A pair of curtains originally situated in one of the front reception rooms of 'Tourmont' in Balwyn Road, Balwyn (now Fintona Girls’ School). The fabric in the curtains was manufactured by the English firm of GP&J Baker. The textile design is variably named as ‘Paradise Bird’ or more recently, ‘Hydrangea Bird’. Turner’s bird perches in a blossoming branch directly above a woodpecker, which is an attribute of Mars, god of war. Thus the design reads as a symbolic statement where War is reversed and Paradise returns (a hopeful message at the end of WWI). “Paradise Bird” has been in continuous production since its creation. . curtains, fabric design, historic buildings

Lace tablecloth owned by a member of the Piesse family of Kew. Later owned by Margaret Hollis (nee Piesse) of Castlemaine.Square linen tablecloth bordered with a wide band of machine-made lace.tablecloths, lace

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.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 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.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

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

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 supper cloth and a commercially produced 'birds of Australia' printed table cloth. Most of the collection derives from the 1950s.Linen table cloth with printed images of birds of Australia with a two-tone green borderlisa sylvan, household linen, table cloths, australiana, australian birds

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

Miss M. Black (member)Drawn fabric work, even weave linen with self coloured geometric design covering the central area and decorative drawn fabric hem. Eight different stitches have been included. Designed and embroidered by the maker. embroidery, mats, 1960-80, australia, drawn fabric

Owned by Wilma Harris nee. Bowering resident of Merino Victoria.Small linen hand embroidered tablecloth bordered in decorative crocheted lacework. Embroidery is a large circle pattern of a lady in a full skirt and bonnet under a arch of light and dark pink flowers with yellow centres and dark green foliage, and rings of muli coloured flowers small and large. womens history, ros harris, merino, sewing, embroidery

Owned by Wilma Harris nee. Bowering resident of Merino Victoria.Small linen hand embroidered tablecloth bordered in fine decorative crocheted lacework. Embroidery is a square shape black broken line that humps and hollows with flowers in plum, dark orange and blue with yellow centres and green foliage. womens history, ros harris, merino, sewing, embroidery

Owned by Wilma Harris nee. Bowering resident of Merino Victoria.Small linen hand embroidered tablecloth bordered in decorative crocheted lacework. Details include, black decorative lanterns, blue flying swallow birds and daisy chain swirls in colours dark and light pink and green.womens history, ros harris, merino, sewing, embroidery

White linen fabric with cutwork embroidery in an art deco style with two designs in opposite corners. A stylistic flower in an oval and a Greek lady with her flute in similar setting which is classical of the period. The edge has decorative padded buttonhole stitchery.embroidery, 1900-20, australia, cutwork, cloths