Mary Card 'Fruit Luncheon large Centre' Chart #60
I have for sale an Exquisite and RARE Antique Dark cream completely hand crocheted 'Mary Card' design, of the 'Fruit Luncheon' Pattern in the large Centre piece English large Chart # 60. This outstanding large centrepiece has wonderful displays of four Different Fruit bowls/baskets filled to overflowing. The middle has more fruit hanging from it :) This wonderful piece of history is made with quality dark cream cotton thread - such amazing work - does not look or feel used :) This pattern finishes at the fruit bowls and border and so makes it a diamond shape, the original pattern (see last photo) has the edging going further down and making it into a round/oval shape.
See more photos below - I have included a photo :)
A design by Mary Card 1861-1940 (an Australian lady who became world famous for her creative crochet designs - see more information about her below)
These stunning and intricate lace pieces are highly collectible and getting very hard to find :)
- just wonderful :)
Excellent Antique Condition - Does not look or feel used :)
Wow considering its age - it is still in wonderful usable as new condition :)
Measurements; 59.5cm x 69cm or 23.5" x 27 1/8 inches
Information on Mary Card (1861–1940)
Mary Card (1861-1940), crochet pattern designer, was born on 24 September 1861 at Castlemaine, Victoria Australia. In 1880 Mary was a student at the National Gallery School of Design. 1903 she had become increasing deaf, faced with the need to find an occupation in which her disability was not a handicap, she decided to combine her writing, drawing and needle-work abilities to become a 'professional designer and teacher of needlework through the press'. Choosing Irish crochet as her medium, she joined a Ladies' Work Association which undertook repairs of valuable crochet pieces and taught herself to mend old lace. When she discovered that she could make new and effective designs to be worked from a chart method of her own invention rather than the usual printed directions.
Her first designs were published in the Ladies' Home Journal in the United States of America. In 1909 she decided to offer her designs and a monthly article to the New Idea (later Everylady's Journal), Melbourne. Her patterns became so popular that the editor reprinted many. She then developed 'giant charts' for more ambitious designs and to cater for workers with failing eyesight, drawn on the scale of ten squares to the inch with a guiding line at every inch.
With five books published, Mary went to the U.S.A. late in 1917 to launch some of her newer designs. In New York, The Mary Card Co. was set up to reprint her crochet books. Later she settled in England in a studio-cottage at Barkham, Berkshire. She continued to produce designs for more than twenty years
Mary Card revisited Australia occasionally. Early in 1940, in poor health, she returned to Victoria to live at Olinda, where she shared a cottage with her sister Harriet. She died there on 13 October 1940 and was cremated.
Reference ~21/02/2023; Citation detail; Sally O'Neill, 'Card, Mary (1861–1940)', Australian Dictionary of Biography published in hardcopy 1979
Would look so lovely in your collection :)
Keep watching as I will be listing lot more Vintage Linen and treasures in the days/weeks to come :)
See my other listings for more great items!
Please pay as soon as you purchase a 'Buy it now' item, when auction ends or within 3 days, or email if you need more time or to confirm payment method.
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Australian buyers PayPal preferred. If using bank deposit or direct transfer use your eBay user id ( eBay name) as the reference, and email me via eBay to let me know :) Items will be posted when payment clears (depending on your bank - it can take a couple of days).
Most items are I sell are used, second-hand, antique or vintage. I'm not an expert, but every effort is made to describe items accurately. I list all faults that I am aware of, but please be aware that most vintage items have age related wear and tear. I'm happy to answer any questions. Please email me in plenty of time before the auction ends.
Please look at the photos carefully as they form part of my description. Payment is required within 3 days of auction finishing, or email me if you need more time - communication is the key!! :) If I don't hear from you or have payment, then I will put an unpaid item claim with eBay, and you will have a strike against you! ...I am a small business and really do not have the time or money to waste on people that buy then don't pay! ~ as I am always out of pocket!
(sorry if this sounds harsh but it is true!)
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Contact Me
Please email me if you need further information before placing your bid. I will always try to get back to you asap ~ but I do work and have a family, so please be patient ~ Also the different time zones don't help :)
About me :)
I am married to a wonderful man and have two gorgeous children, I work and run this small business ~ so busy :) We live out of town on a few acres, looking out on rolling green hills - Bliss :) I try to post the same day or next day after payment has cleared ~ I don't post on week-ends.
I am obsessed with collecting Vintage Textiles and other interesting Treasures ~ this has been a lifelong interest of mine. "I find these gorgeous 'Vintage Linen Treasures', and bring them 'Back to Life' just for you". Embroidery work is such a lost art ~ it is not as common as it was in our Grandmothers days, and to the standard they were taught as part of 'getting ready to run their own homes'. I think about the person who has spent so many hours making such beautiful creations ~ it truly is a lost art. These gorgeous 'Linen Treasures' are getting very hard to find! ~ so I gather them to offer to you :) They are washed and lightly pressed, ready to use in your home, gift or your own collection :)
Enjoy!! :)
