This top was made by Toula Mavrokefalos Black (nee Raftopoulos) as a teenager living in Romania. It was intended to be worn under suit jackets. Her daughter, Olga Black, is a longtime Brighton resident. Olga Maria Black was born in Melbourne in 1930, the daughter of Ithacan migrants Constantine and Toula Mavrokefalos. Constantine first emigrated to Australia in 1902, returning to Greece circa 1912-13 to serve his home country in the Balkan Wars. Toula's family had left Ithaca for Romania when she was only six months old, but she happened to be visiting the island at the very time that Constantine arrived, fresh from the war. Within three weeks they were married, and when Constantine returned to Melbourne in 1914 his new bride came with him. Constantine had trained as an accountant, but his qualifications were not recognised in Australia. Changing his surname to the Anglicised "Black", he started off working in his older brother Dionysios's cafés before going into business on his own. In 1917 he opened the Paris Residential Café at 54-56 Swanston Street, which offered both dining and accommodation. The business saw some years of success, but did not survive the Great Depression. Constantine died in 1944. Olga's mother Toula learned to sew as a child, while growing up in the Romanian village of Brila. She developed her skills making lace and embroidering items for her trousseau. Some of the linen she embroidered had been woven from flax on Ithaca by her own grandmother, Efstathia. During the Depression, when money was scarce, Toula embroidered at home, doing work for a factory in Flinders Lane. Using a cotton reel, a threepence and a sixpence she created and embroidered designs on hundreds of blouses. Olga spent her preschool days sitting at the table where her mother worked. Toula would involve Olga by allowing her to help choose the colour combinations. Toula lived with Olga in Brighton until her death in 1976. Olga inherited her mother's sewing skills. She re-invented some of Toula’s trousseau nightdresses and skilfully altered other clothing, making dresses which she wore around Brighton for many years.Long-sleeved top of cream georgette with high round neck. Front features three handmade rectagular lace panel inserts, surrounded with floral cross stitch embroidery in red, blue, black and greentoula mavrokefalos, toula black, olga black, migration, embroidery

This nightgown was made by Vasiliki Raftopoulos around 1900 for her daughter Toula's trousseau. Born in Ithaca, Toula's family migrated to Romania when she was only a baby. In 1914, Toula emigrated to Australia with her husband Constantine Mavrokefalos, where their daughter Olga Black was born in 1930. Olga is a longtime Brighton resident. BHS holds a collection of garments and textiles made by the women of Olga's family, spanning four generations. Constantine first emigrated to Australia in 1902, returning to Greece circa 1912-13 to serve his home country in the Balkan Wars. Toula's family had left Ithaca for Romania when she was only six months old, but she happened to be visiting the island at the very time that Constantine arrived, fresh from the war. Within three weeks they were married, and when Constantine returned to Melbourne in 1914 his new bride came with him. Constantine had trained as an accountant, but his qualifications were not recognised in Australia. Changing his surname to the Anglicised "Black", he started off working in his older brother Dionysios's cafés before going into business on his own. In 1917 he opened the Paris Residential Café at 54-56 Swanston Street, which offered both dining and accommodation. The business saw some years of success, but did not survive the Great Depression. Constantine died in 1944. Olga's mother Toula learned to sew as a child, while growing up in the Romanian village of Brila. She developed her skills making lace and embroidering items for her trousseau. Some of the linen she embroidered had been woven from flax on Ithaca by her own grandmother, Efstathia. During the Depression, when money was scarce, Toula embroidered at home, doing work for a factory in Flinders Lane. Using a cotton reel, a threepence and a sixpence she created and embroidered designs on hundreds of blouses. Olga spent her preschool days sitting at the table where her mother worked. Toula would involve Olga by allowing her to help choose the colour combinations. Toula lived with Olga in Brighton until her death in 1976. Olga inherited her mother's sewing skills. She re-invented some of Toula’s trousseau nightdresses and skilfully altered other clothing, making dresses which she wore around Brighton for many years.Women's white cotton nightgown, long with three quarter sleeves. Cotton lace on front and sleeves. Front fastening buttons. Pintucked with eyelets around neck.nightgown, toula black, toula mavrokefalos, vasiliki raftopoulos, olga black, 1900s, trousseau

This nightgown belonged to Toula Mavrokefalos Black, nee Raftopoulos (1892-1976). Born in Ithaca, Toula's family migrated to Romania when she was only a baby. She learned to sew as a child while growing up in the Romanian village of Brila. She developed her skills making lace and embroidering items for her trousseau. Some of the linen she embroidered had been woven from flax on Ithaca by her own grandmother, Efstathia. In 1914, Toula emigrated to Australia with her husband Constantine Mavrokefalos. During the Depression, when money was scarce, Toula embroidered at home, doing work for a factory in Flinders Lane. Using a cotton reel, a threepence and a sixpence she created and embroidered designs on hundreds of blouses. Her daughter Olga Black spent her preschool days sitting at the table where her mother worked. Toula would involve Olga by allowing her to help choose the colour combinations. Toula lived with Olga in Brighton until her death in 1976. Olga inherited her mother's sewing skills. She re-invented some of Toula’s trousseau nightdresses and skilfully altered other clothing, making dresses which she wore around Brighton for many years. BHS holds a collection of garments and textiles made by the women of Olga's family, spanning four generations.Women's cream cotton sleeveless nightgown. Cutwork embroidery on bodice. Blue stain under one arm.nightgown, toula black, toula mavrokefalos, 1900s

This table runner was made by Corporal Herbert Burdekin during the First World War around 1916 while he was recovering from a bullet wound. Herbert joined the 8th (Reserve) Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment (Leeds Rifles) in November 1914 and was deployed to France in April 1915. In July 1916 he received a gunshot wound to the arm and was sent home to England to recover, during which time he crocheted this table runner. He returned to France in early 1917 and was wounded a second time by a gas shell on 23 July 1917. Herbert likely never fully recovered from his exposure to gas during the war. He received a medical discharge in November 1918 due to "debility caused by war service" and died only a few years later in 1922, aged 26. His widow Mary and young daughter Hilda moved to Australia and settled in Brighton, with Mary living at 4 Collins Street until her death in 1966.Hand crocheted table runner featuring an interlocking diamond pattern in cream, pale purple and pale yellow. Bordered by pale yellow fringe.first world war, world war i, herbert burdekin, crochet, table runner, army

White oval large linen tray cloth, with embroidered flowers and scalloped edge.table linen, tableware, tray cloths

White cotton rectangular embroidered tray cloth. Blue embroidered "Teas here". Blue teacup and saucer embroidered in opposite corner. Blue crocheted scalloped border.table linen, tray cloths

White cotton rectangular embroidered tray cloth. Has two blue embroidered bluebirds in floral circles. Finished with a scalloped crocheted edge in white and blue.table linen, tray cloths

Donated by Mrs. Nancy AdeneySeven white cotton serviettes with a triangular embroidered corner. Embroidered all around outer edge.serviettes, table linen

Eight square white cotton embroidered serviettes with a small embroidered square in corner. Have open cotton embroidered edging.serviettes, table linen

a highly decorated crocheted floral and swirl patterned oval doily.doilies, furniture accessories, soft furnishings, table linen

An oval shaped white cotton doily with a wide fluted shaped patterned crocheted edge.doilies, furniture accessories, table linen, soft furnishings

Almost square white, cotton supper cloth, with two 1" and one 2" wide lacy lines all around the tablecloth.table linen., household textiles., tableware

Three White, damask sideboard cloths with fringed edges along the front and two ends of the cloth. The back edge is hemmed.table linen., household textiles.

Two circular, white linen doilies with a crocheted border with circles. One 20 cm. diameter, the other 18 cm. diameter.doilies, table linen.

White Damask tablecloth, with scalloped edge.tablecloths., table linen.

Originated from Southern Europe judging by design in centre. From the home of W.J. Sebire.Square hand woven fringed edge doily. Cream in colour. Diamond pattern in middle with central star. doilies, table linen.

Square cream doily with woven pattern and leaves in design.doilies, table linen.

White clover leaf-shaped linen doily with crocheted edge and cut work.doilies, table linen.

Hand knitted by Mrs. C. H. Adamson White, hand-knitted doily with fine design.doilies, table linen.

3 cotton thread crocheted doilies. One pair white, star-shaped with pineapple pattern. One cream-coloured, with central whirlygig pattern.doilies, table linen.

Were used by Mr and Mrs Chapple Snr.Square white, fine cotton tablecloth with embroidered flowers and butterflies in the central square. This has a border of drawn thread work, creating a floral pattern all the way around. There are embroidered flowers in the subsequent section of the cloth, edged by a 9.5 cm. hemmed border. Square white or cream-coloured, fine cotton doily with an embroidered, appliqued and crocheted corners and edges.table linen., tablecloths

Two large and three small, red and white, linen place mats all with fringed edges. The two large mats have a 10.5 cm. central floral design panel, while the small ones have red and white 1.5 cm. borders.table linen.

Hand made, Irish crocheted.Round, white doily with 10 embroidered flowers in the cotton hand-crocheted surround.doilies, table linen.

Cream, linen sandwich tray doily, embroidered with royal and pale blue and yellow flowers with tatting around the edges.table linen., household textiles

Circular, cream-coloured, linen doily, with two embroidered plants on opposite sides, surrounded by a blue and yellow scalloped stitching line and crocheted edging.doilies, table linen.

Cream-coloured, circular doily with machine lace and a floral pattern throughout. There is a single flower in the centre with a square border around it.household textiles., doilies, table linen.

White, cotton lace doily with an embroidered flower in the centre and a scalloped edge.table ware., doilies, table linen.

Circular, white crocheted doily with a whirlygig pattern in the centre and stumpwork embroidered flower heads in each of the scallops forming the edges.household textiles., doilies, table linen.

Cream star patterned doily, with pointed edges and star in centre.In shuttle netting.doilies, table linen.

1960Square, cream linen supper cloth with a multi-coloured, floral embroidery, cross stitch and drawn thread pattern stretching across the entire cloth. It has drawn thread and embroidered edging all around the cloth. There are 6 matching serviettes each with a floral, embroidered pattern in one corner and drawn thread and embroidered edging all around.table linen., household textiles