What material are they made of? Are they Square shaped? Sounds like they
could they be a mans's handkerchief collection.

Kristie Dobbins
Textile Curator
Amherst Museum


-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Claire Kuhlmann
Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2005 5:39 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: colossal napkins


Our curator was recently sifting through accession records and came across
one that documented a set of 12 damask napkins monogrammed "WLJ" c.1860s.
The peculiar thing is that they apparenlty measure 50 inches by 22 inches.
As they are in storage in an upstate facility we do not know what they look
like in person.  We were wondering if anyone could offer some insight.  Are
they really napkins or are they small tablecloths? In order to avoid signs
of wear and tear would they have rotated a set of 12 tablecloths? If they
are napkins, do larger napkins of this size and time period have a special
name?  Are there others that exist of this size and proportion?  Any help
would be much appreciated.

Claire Kuhlmann
Education Coordinator
John Jay Homestead State Historic Site

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