Shared Photo: Augusta's Tablecloth Made For Her Daughter

Question

Augusta Loock (Streich) was working on this tablecloth and matching napkins as a gift for her daughter Mary in 1907 when she died of Typhoid Fever.  Her sister Tena Scheel (Streich) finished the work and presented it to her niece.

I wanted to share this family photo of Augusta Loock with the community. Location: Arnprior, Renfrew, Ontario, Canada. Date: 1907

Click here for the image details page or here for the full-sized version (5152 x 3864).

Answer 1

What a fantastic work so delicate

Must have taken a long time to make work like this

Thank you Pat for sharing this amazing piece of work

Answer 2

A wonderful story to hand down as well as the treasure that goes with it,

Comments

Thank you Pip,

There's more to the story. The daughter, Mary, got Typhoid Fever too.  The doctor said that if she survived, she wouldn't live longer than age 20,as she was so weakened by the illness.  She made it to age 48, enough time to get married, enjoy life, have a daughter, who became my mother.

Answer 3

What a beautiful piece!  And a heartwarming history with it.  Being a needleworker, I can appreciate how much work went into this.  It is advanced far beyond my ability.  What a treasure!

Comments

Thank you, Robin, and both sisters could do the work because Tena finished it for Augusta.  Growing up, my mother would put it on the dining room table for special occasions. And one day she told me the story.

Answer 4

Absolutely beautiful work. I have a smaller piece embroidered by my grandmother with tatting by my great grandmother. It's amazing the quality and craftsmanship that the women of the 18th and 19th centuries had. Much of it has become like lost art, no one seems to want to take the time these days. 

Comments

Thank you, Lisa.  I agree but it was a different world back then.  We seem to be so much busier now but they had more to do.  So many things by hand that we have machines for.  Where did they find the time to do this work?

Answer 5

These old cutwork pieces are so beautiful. Thank you for sharing this gorgeous work of art.