Damask is a reversible figured fabric of silk, wool, linen, cotton, or synthetic fibres, with a pattern formed by weaving. Damasks are woven with one warp yarn and one weft yarn, usually with the pattern in warp-faced satin weave and the ground in weft-faced or sateen weave. Damasks derive their name from the city of Damascus - in Middle Ages it was a large city active both in trading, as part of the silk road, and manufacture. By the fourteenth century damasks were being woven on draw looms in Italy. Modern damasks are woven on computerized Jacquard looms. Damask weaves appear most commonly in table linens and furnishing fabrics, but also in clothing. The Damask weave is used extensively throughout the fashion industry due to its versatility and high quality finish.6 white damask, dinner napkins with varied patterensbrighton, moorabbin, linen, pioneers, haberdashery, market gardeners, dressmakers, craft work, early settlers

These 3 hand-embroidered cotton napkins are an example of the dressmaking skills of the women of the pioneer settlers families in Moorabbin Shire early 20thC Early settlers and market gardeners established their families in Moorabbin Shire and this item shows the skill and craftsmanship of the women of these families 3 hand-embroidered cotton dinner napkinsclothing, brighton, moorabbin, linen, pioneers, haberdashery, dendy henry, market gardeners, dressmakers, craft work

Sad-irons or "solid" irons were made by blacksmiths and used to smooth out material by pressing the hot iron over it. A piece of sheet -iron was placed over the kitchen fire and the irons placed on it could be heated whilst remaining clean of ash.. The women used 2 irons - one heating while the other was used. Thick cloth or gloves protected their hands from the hot irons. The handle was removed from the cool iron and re- attached to remove the hot iron from the fire. The cool iron was replaced on the fire or stove to heat again. Mrs Florence Potts invented in 1871 a detachable handle made from walnut wood with a metal latch to release the handle. These wooden handles prevented burned hands and were sold to grateful women all over the world. These irons were cleaned with steel wool to prevent them marking the material. If the iron was too hot the material would scorch. Most homes set aside one day for ironing and some large households had an ironing room with a special stove designed to heat irons. However, most women had to work with a heavy, hot iron close to the fireplace even in summer.Mrs Florence Potts invented this type of detachable walnut wood handle with a meta release latch for sad irons in 1871 and it sold widely throughout the world to grateful women including those in Moorabbin Shire. The family of Ms May Curtis were early settlers in Moorabbin ShireA) A sad iron, made of cast iron , has a special handle invented in 1871 by Mrs Florence Potts of Iowa, USA. B) The detachable handle made of walnut wood to prevent burned hands, was attached to the iron by a metal latch.A) UNITED/ N0 / 50 / AUSTRALIApotts florence, iowa usa, melbourne, moorabbin, sad irons, kitchen equipmentn fireplaces, walnut wood, sewing, laundry, table ware, linen, pioneers, early settlers, washing days, craftwork

The little blue bag was stirred around in the final rinse water on washday. It disguised any hint of yellow and helped the household linen look whiter than white. The main ingredients were synthetic ultramarine and baking soda, and the original "squares" weighed an ounce and cost 1 penny. Reckitt’s had been in the blue and starch business in Hull, England, even before they started importing French ultramarine in the 1850s to make the new blue rinse additive at their English factory. These blue bags, being alkaline , were useful to ease the pain of wasp, ant and insect bites. Reckitts blue bags were an essential part of washday for early settlers in Moorabbin Shire and continued to be used throughout 20thC.Laundry blue bags (2), 'Reckitt's' Blue Bag, paper-wrap made by Reckitt and Colman (Australia) Ltd, Australia, c 2oth C. Made of powdered ultramarine and baking soda. RECKITT& COLMAN PTY.LIMITED SYDNEY AUSTRALIA / Reckitt's Bag Blue / Squeeze the bag in the last rinse / & stir. This keeps your linen white / / RECKITT & COLMAN PTY. LIMITED SYDNEY AUSTRALIA. Red & white stripes Regd.reckitts pty ltd., hull u.k., moorabbin, bentleigh, early settlers, pioneers, laundry equipment, linen, clothing, washing aids

Supper cloth embroidered by Margaret Amess, youngest child of Samuel and Jane Amess. Margaret Amess gave the supper cloth to Mary Clay, aunt of the donor.Linen supper cloth with drawn thread 55mm from edge all around, 2 rows of drawn thread with petals 130 mm from edge and 175mm from edge. Drawn thread at corners showing petals and whorls. White. Butterflies embroidered at alternate diagonal corners. Letters "M" and "A" at the other alternate diagonal corners. White embroidery on white linen. Butterfly motif."M" "A" in diagonal corners.margaret amess, tynefield, churchill island, supper cloth

Object. Rectangular in shape, 15 cms x 10.5 cms mirror frame, with a 17 cms handle. The mirror has a bevelled edge, and is backed with a deep cream linen fabric embroidered in a fine silk floral-spray petit pomt embroidery. The frame is marked 24 ct. GPL (24ct gold plate). The handle adjoins the mirror with three graduated circles, and three more circles, graduated in diameter, form a small ''knob''at the lower edge.24ct Gold Platedomestic equipment, gold, 24ct gold plate hand mirror

Cream linen and lace square doyleytextiles, domestic, lace doyley

Textiles. Possibly Brussells linen lace. Oval in shape, very fine net is overlaid with a floral design of linen lace. A spray of 16 x 1.5 cm diameter flowers, and 1.0 cm leaves are attached. Clusters of the flowers edge the net, with fillers of filligree type lace. Outer edge has a scalloped effect of linen woven lace.textiles, domestic, net and lace oval doyley

Textiles, brown linen tapestry fabric table mat. Lined with cream coloured cotton fabric. Blanket stitch around all sides. Decorative red and green embroidered patterns in all corners.textiles, domestic, table mat

Textiles, brown linen embroidered double sided peg bag. Cream ribbon draw ties. Pockets at both ends-one 20 cm deep, one 28 cm deep. Geometric patterns on both pockets of blue, black, green and red embroidery plus green and brown fabric paint.textiles, domestic, peg bag

Textiles, cream coloured linen and crocheted lace tablecloth. Cross shaped centre of linen with corners edged with crocheted wheel patterns to form square tablecloth. Old box 75.textiles, domestic, tablecloth

Textiles. Machine made rectangular cream coloured linen tablecloth. 3.5cm turned over hem with decorative stitching around top of hem. 2.5cm diameter machine embroidered wreath in centre of blue flowers and brown and yellow leaves. 326 names (blue) hand embroidered around the edge at right angles to the hem and 44 names scattered in central area. (several colours)., tag in one corner ''SEMCO''. Old box 75,yellow label 183.textiles, domestic, tablecloth with embroidered names

Textiles. Linen flour bag printed on both sides in red and green.1. ''WITTSCHEIBE BROS. The famous WB Brand Regd. World's Best Self Raising Flour prepared from the choicest Victorian wheat. Factory 172 MITCHELL ST>< BENDIGO< 5 lbs''. Side 1 printed in black ink KA No 712. Side 2 printed in pen ink 1149. 5lbs net. Self raising Flour W.B. Brand Self Raising Flour is mixed and prepared from the choicest Victorian grown wheat, and possessing highly nutritious qualities is unequalled for Scones, Cakes, Puddings, ETC 172 Mitchell St., Bendigo, Telephone 339''.textiles, domestic, wittscheibe bros, bendigo. flour bag

Textiles. Calico flour bag printed on both sides in black ink. 1. ''Jones, Miller & Co's Royal Self Raising Flour, 5 lbs Net. Factory Bendigo, Victoria. Coat of Arms printed in centre JM&C. Illegible signature in brown ink in one corner. 2. JONES, MILLER & CO.Self Raising Flour Factory Manufactures of Jams, Jellies, Canned Fruits, Pickles, Tomato Sauce, Chutneys, Custard Powders, Essences, Etc. Williamson & Myers Streets, Bendigo, Victoria. Telephone 73 and 19 Box 50. Collection has another in linen fabric which has been unstitched on side and bottom seams. Uncatalogued. The Bendigonian reported in 1933 that Jones, Miller and Company had an up-to-date factory that had already gained a standard of excellence for Bendigo pure food products.textiles, domestic, jones, miller & co flour bags

Textiles. Hand made cardboard trinket box covered with heavy linen type material with hinged lid. Embroidered cotton light blue flowers on lid. Cording around edge of lid. Seams of embroidered thread. Lined with light blue satin.textiles, domestic, hand made cardboard trinket box

The top was inserted into a glass bottle filled with water which was used to dampen starched clothes and linen before the garments were ironed. The introduction of steamirons into households meant that 'dampening bottle' became superfluous.A bottle top with a plastic hollow green rubber stopper and a rounded metal top which has small holes on the surface.laundering, ironing, starching, domestic items, george evans collection

The damping bottle was filled with water and used to moisten starched clothes and linen before garments were ironed. The introduction of steam irons into households in the early 1960's resulted in damping bottles becoming superfluous.A glass 'Schweppes' bottle has yellow and black graphics on it. It has been recycled and used as a damping bottle. The metal stopper has been inserted into a cork. There are spray holes on the top of the stopper. The word 'Schweppes' has been embossed around the base of the bottom.13 FL. OZ / SCHWEPPESlaundering, ironing, starching, schweppes, domestic items, george evans collection