EMBROIDERED DAMASK

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 865, 8 January 1930, Page 7

EMBROIDERED DAMASK

I TABLE DECORATIONS IN OLD COUNTRY MORE COLOUR IN CUTLERY j The most striking novelty of this | season as far as table linen is concerned is the introduction of handembroidered damask, says an English writer. “But surely that is painting , the lily,” someone is bound to pro- \ test. True, Irish damask has its own ! self-patterned beauty, but this new form of decoration merely emphasises its loveliness a little. The scheme followed is to take a motif from the design of the damask ; and embroider it in colour. Maybe | the colour embroidery forms the ! border of the cloth, or only adds a little to the decoration of the corners. The cloth I liked best when it was shown to me* was of the latter order. The lilac pattern design had been picked out mainly in the corners, and the blossoms and leaves were filled in natural tints. There was just a sprig here and there over the rest of the tablecloth, and the table napkins were embroidered to match. The best double •damask is used for the purpose, and the embroidery is carried out in fadeless thread, so that the cloth should last more than one lifetime. Indeed, one easily visualised it as an heirloom of the future. Colour on the cloth naturally leads to a taste for colour in cutlery. Hitherto tea knives only have cheered us with their coloured handles, but recently one of the very well known cutlery manufacturers of Sheffield has entered the field with complete services with bright-hued handles. So far there are three tints, sapphire blue, ruby red, and emerald green. These tints, though of the pure bright variety, are not crude, for the colour is somewhat mettled, and the effect 1 that of an opalescent jewel. The I blades are of good quality Sheffield stainless steel. Fish eaters, salad servers, meat and game carvers, are available as well as dinner, cheese, dessert and tea knives. They may be bought separately or as part of a canteen or a section of a canteen of cutlery, and the accompanying silverware is of Adam. Keppelwhite, or Sheraton period, accord- . | ing to taste.