This bolster sham is one of several linen and clothing items that were made and belonged to Mrs. Eliza Towns and donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village. Eliza was born Eliza Gould in 1857 in South Melbourne (Emerald Hill) and in 1879 married Charles Towns. In the early 1880's they moved to Nhill in western Victoria and remained there for the rest of their married life. Charles was a jeweller and later became an accountant and for many years was involved with the Shire Council, the local show committee (A & P Society), the Hospital Committee and the Board of the local newspaper (the Nhill Free Press). They had three children and lived a life that would be regarded as comfortably "middle class". Eliza probably had a treadle sewing machine and would have made many of her own clothes and household linens - adding her own handmade embroidered or crocheted decorative trim. Most beds during the late 19th and early 20th century had a feather, hair or spring mattress covered by a blanket and topped with an under sheet, an upper sheet, several blankets and a bedspread. A flat bolster could be placed either under the pillows or on top of the pillows with a decorative sham. Washing pillows and quilts by hand would have been a very onerous task (involving heating water and handwashing in a tub or using a copper) and so it became the practise of many housewives to cover the pillows and bolsters with an outer slip (or sham) of washable material which could be easily removed and washed when needed. If the bolster was kept under the pillows it wouldn't need to be very decorative but many shams or slips that were "on show" were often highly decorated with embroidery, pintucks, ribbons or lace. This bolster sham is machine made and quite plain with the exception of some pintucking and eyelet lace on each end which suggests that it would mostly be hidden under the top pillows with just the decorative edges on display.This item is an example of the needlework skills of women in the early 20th century - combining machine stitching with hand embroidery to personalise and embellish a practical domestic object. It is also significant as an example of an early 20th century innovation that helped make the working lives of housewives a little bit easier.A long white cotton rectangular bolster sham, machine sewn, with seven ties and two buttons (plus one missing button) to enable it to be folded over lengthwise and closed. It has two pull string ties near each end to enclose a bolster and is finished with a decorative edge of pintucks and handmade eyelet lace and embroidery.flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, eliza towns, sham, bedding, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, warrnambool, household textiles, sewing, bolster sham, housework, pillow sham, charles towns, nhill, haberdashery, needlework, manchester, handmade, household linen

In the early 20th century it was common for ladies to work doilies in lace or embroidered cloth. They were used to decorate sideboards or dressing tables and also on trays underneath crockery and on plates under food. These could be made from purchased kits or pattern books. They may form part of a trousseau Set of partially worked doilies. They are comprised of daisy wheels of two sizes. A central circular motif is surrounded by smaller motifsdoilies, household textiles

A wool rug with a hessian backing. It has a red and white striped pattern in the middle, with brown triangular shapes at the sides. There are brown and white stripes yellow flowers and green leaves around the edges.rugs, floor rugs, textiles, household textiles

Belonged to Mrs. H. N. LordA large padded tea cosy to enclose a teapot. It is made of pale green satin with a white diamond pattern, and pink roses. It has two silver metal handles with a metal clip and a green satin lining.A crown with olive leaves is on clip.tea-cosies, household textiles, domestic equipment

White cotton pillow slip with embroidered flowers.pillow slips, household textiles

Calico embroidery pattern for table runner, intended for Renaissance work, or Point Lace. The blue printed pattern depicts leaves and flowers the whole length of the runner." L.B. Lacet Runner. J.W. with a crown in between the two letters, No. 4322" in top left hand corner of the runner and "Worked with Point Braid No. 261" in the top right hande corner. The same inscriptions are found repeated at the other end of the runner.household textiles., tableware, textileworking patterns

Hand embroidered.Butterfly pattern on calico, partially completed in Renaissance Work or Point Lace, with pulled thread, lace braid and cotton embroidery thread stitching.textileworking patterns, household textiles, tableware

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.

Square, cream-coloured, silk organza and cotton table throw with purple, pink, white and green iris design shadow embroidery around the throw.tablecloths., household textiles., tableware

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

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.

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.

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

Wedding gift to Mr. and Mrs. L. Wilms in 1909.White, china milk jug with hand-painted pink flowers and gold edging. (missing) White, rectangular, net jug cover with blue running stitch edging and clear glass beads.household textiles., milk jugs

A long white lace embroidered patterned cotton table runner for use on a table or sideboard. It has scalloped edging.table runners, table linen, table accessories, tableware, household textiles

A large white handmade open patterned crotched doiley used to protect furniture. It has a floral pattern and scalloped edge.doileys, household textiles, soft furnishings, table linen, tableware, table accessories

Square, white damask tablecloth, with leaf design and a spoke stiched edge.tableware, table linen, household textiles

White cotton table runner, with a white embroidered butterfly amongst white stems, flowers and leaves at each end. The runner has white, scalloped, embroidered and crocheted edges.household textiles, table linen

White, cotton table runner with a central strip flanked by cotton zig-zag strips, 2 cm cotton strips and then outer, scalloped, crocheted edges all around.table runner, table linen, household textiles

Embroidered inen table mat with blue straight edging along the top and blue scalloped edging along the bottom edge. There is a brown embriodered bowl with blue and pink flowers and green leaves at the bottom.household textiles, hand towels

White linen tea cosy with hand embroidered plant and leaf design on both sides and a white braided edging.household textiles, tea accessories, tea-cosies

Royal blue, square, satin tablecloth/shawl with 27 cm. crocheted and fringed border. It is heavily embroidered with multiple flowers and leaves in many different colours.household textiles, table linen, tablecloths, shawls

White linen, rectangular tray cloth with crocheted, scallopped edge and 4 embroidered flower patterns, one on each sidehousehold textiles, table linen., tray cloths

A set of cream linen table linen comprising: one rectangular centro piece or runner, four rectangular place mats and eight square serviettes. All pieces have pulled thread, or drawn fabric, as well as embroidered detailing, patterns and edging.table linen., household textiles.

A square, souvenir tablecloth from the Channel Islands. On an azure background, all the islands are printed and named on the tablecloth, as well as the names of the towns, villages and the bays of both Jersey and Guernsey. There are four rectangular pictures, surrounded by a white border, representing significant places and buildings, as well as others, without borders, depicting old and modern ships, a compass, a coat of arms and the distinctive Jersey and Guernsey cow.There is a red and white border, almost at the edge of the azure background and in each corner is printed a white anchor and rope. There is also a 3 cm. plain white outer border around the tablecloth.Names of places, beaches and bays on the Channel islands. Pictorial representations of significant places and buildings and a white anchor and rope in each of the four corners. "Exclusive to Creaseys of Guernsey" is printed at the bottom left hand corner of the tablecloth.table ware., household textiles., table linen.

Set of ten cream, linen serviettes, each with a pink applique'd and embroidered flower in one corner.table linen., table ware., household textiles

White, nylon tablecloth with lace star in the centre, surrounded by lace lines, with embroidered crystal shapes within lace in each corner. White, linen pillow slip with an embroidered flower and leaves in each corner. It has a pulled thread and embroidered, scalloped border, (Torn)table ware., bed linen., household textiles.

Table runners were used to protect furniture such as tables or sideboards from objects placed on the furniture to stop scratching occurring.A long white cotton embroidered table runner with a floral pattern.table runners, runners, household textiles, table linen

Tablecloths were used as they are today for protecting and keeping a table clean and from being scratched, through use of tableware and sopping up spills. Later ones were a display of elegance to match the ornate furniture, especially white ones as they indicated the household could employ staff to keep them white.A white rectangular lace tablecloth, with floral and rectangular lace or crotchet style overall pattern.tablecloths, household textiles, table linen, cloths