This kind of tea cosy was found in just about every Dutch home in the 1950's. It took pride of place on the tea trolley and took the place of, or was an alternative to, the tea lights which also served to keep the teapot warm. It held a large teapot and although it was very effective in keeping the tea warm, after a couple of hours the tea became rather bitter and tasted "stewed". Since the Dutch are not in the habit of adding milk to their tea, the late afternoon cuppa was not always a favourite.A symbol of what the Dutch prize above all, namely "gezelligheid", which means homely cosiness. The afternoon tea ritual ("thee-uurtje") was a very important time of the day as children came home from school to a cosily lit home with their mother presiding over pouring out the tea and distributing biscuits (one at a time!) Half rounded cotton padded teapot warmer (Dutch "theemuts" = tea bonnet) with inserted plywood base. White outside with grey-blue Delft tile motifs, lined with navy blue taffeta and padded with kapok. Metal carrying handle under which there is a clasp which opens and closes the cosy.noneteapot, dutch family life, dutch, immigration, household items

Location is now 3 Beatty Street, Mont Albert although electoral entries for the Lodewyckx family in the 1930s give the address as 1 Beatty Street. This address is a more contemporary house and part of the original garden was subdivided off at some stage. The property's original address was 1 Victoria Street, renamed in 1917. The house was built c 1891 and from then until 1905 it was home to Leopold A Carter (dentist of Collins Street); followed by James J Hempill (broker) from 1905 -1907. he called it 'Manchling'. There were several other owners or tenants before the Lodewyckx family moved into it in 1920. They named the property 'Huize Eikenbosch' (Dutch meaning House of Oaks). It was set in 1/3 hectare with a formal garden, vegetable garden, orchard and chicken run. Augustin had a life-long interest in growing vegetables and planted many European trees, especially oaks. Augustin Lodewyckx was born and educated in Belgium, was appointed Professor of Modern Languages at Stellenbosch, South Africa and later joined the Belgium Colonial Service. In 1915 he commenced as lecturer in German at Melbourne, becoming Associate Professor in 1923. He had married Anna Sophia Hansen* in South Africa in 1910. They had 2 children Karel Axel, librarian of the University of Melbourne, and daughter Hilma Dymphna, translator, editor and wife of Manning Clark, historian. In 1942 Augustin introduced a university course in Dutch and also undertook research into German immigration to Australia. He retired in 1946 and died in 1964. (*Thought to be nick-named Mina.) A black and white photograph of a corner of a house with a large palm tree in front. There is decorative wooden balustrading on the verandah.beatty street, mont albert, mina lodewyckx (mrs), augustin lodewyckx (mr), karel axel lodewyckx (mr), axel lodewyckx (mr), anna sophia lodewyckx (mrs), hilma dymphna lodewyckx (miss), dymphna lodewyckx (miss), hilma dymphna clark (mrs), dymphna clark (mrs), architectural features