COVER, TABLE

Description: TABLE CLOTH, RECTANGULAR. CREAM COLOUR, FOUR SIDES ARE EDGED WITH GATHERED NET RUFFLES. SEAMS ARE MACHINE SEN. RUFFLES TRIMMED WITH HANDMADE BATTENBERG TYPE LACE IN SMALL TRIANGLES. SMALL TEAR AT NET SEAMS. CENTER SECTION IS DIAMOND SHAPED WITH HANDMADE BATTENBERG LACE DESIGN. CENTER SECTION ALSO SHOWS A BORDER STRIP WITH TRIANGLES IN CORNERS MADE FROM BATTENBERG LACE. VARIOUS DISCOLOURATION AND STAINING THROUGHOUT.

History: TABLE CLOTH WAS OWNED AND USED BY DONOR’S MOTHER MARY ELIZABETH VANBUSKIRK NEE TAYLOR. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION REGARDING MARY ELIZABETH VANBUSKIRK NEE TAYLOR WAS EXTRACTED FROM A LONGER NARRATIVE WRITTEN BY MARY VANBUSKIRK AT THE TIME OF DONATION: “MUM HAD VERY FINE TABLE MANNERS, AND SET A LOT OF STORE BY TABLE MANNERS. FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS, SHE SET A BEAUTIFUL TABLE, WITH FRESH LINENS, AND OLD FAMILY CHINA AND SILVER. BUT WE ALWAYS USED A SILVER SALT SERVER WITH SPOON, AND SILVER PEPPER SHAKER, AND SILVER FLATWARE FOR EVERYDAY. SHE ALWAYS MADE SURE THE SALT AND PEPPER WERE OFF THE TABLE BEFORE DESSERT (SHE ALWAYS SAID THE DESSERT TASTED BETTER). SHE ALWAYS CLEARED THE TABLE TWO PLATES AT A TIME, AND MADE SURE WE DID TOO —NO STAKING EVER! WHEN SHE WAS EATING, SHE ALWAYS PUT DOWN HER FORK BETWEEN MOUTHFULS, AND WOULD ONLY PICK UP HER FORK WHEN SHE WAS READY TO TAKE THE NEXT MOUTHFUL – A HABIT I AM NOW TRYING TO EMULATE. SOMETIMES WE WOULD BE ALLOWED A CERTAIN LAPSE, BUT SHE MADE IT CLEAR THAT WE COULDN’T DO WHATEVER IT WAS ‘WHEN THE QUEEN CAME TO TEA’.” FOR DETAILED BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION RELATING TO DONOR'S FAMILY HISTORY, PLEASE SEE TO P20110012001.; *UPDATE* IN 2021 TWO COLLECTIONS ASSISTANTS, RYLEY GELINAS AND O. E., CONDUCTED AN AUDIT OF THE ROLLED TEXTILE COLLECTION, INCLUDING THIS ARTIFACT. RESEARCH CONDUCTED INTO THE DONOR WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AND NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS MADE AVAILABLE AS A RESULT OF THE AUDIT WORK.