GENERAL EMBROIDERY, TRAY CLOTH

Doyleys, important household accessories in the early 20th C. This doyley has a most unusual shape, like open wings of a butterfly. The fine hand embroidery consists of little satin stitch dots in tones of reddish brown, creating a floral design, offset on an angle on the tray cloth. Crochet edge.

The domestic ritual of serving tea was an important occasion not only in Victoria drawing rooms, but as important social get-togethers on shady verandas of Australian homesteads. This gave rise to an abundance of domestic arts related to the serving of tea – tea cosies, doyleys, tray cloths, afternoon tea cloths, serviettes, beaded milk jug covers, pot holders, aprons and tea towels – differing in style to suit the occasion.

Most originated in the 1920s to 1940s and were usually worked on linen with brightly coloured threads as part of a young girl’s ‘Glory Box’ or trousseau. Patterns for household linen, mass produced by Semco, Myart and Deighton were often published in women’s’ magazines such as Australian Home Journal, The Weekly Times and The Australian Woman’s Mirror, which offered a mail service to women in country areas.