Twenty-four Luncheon or Tea Napkins

late 19th century

A set of twenty-four tea or luncheon napkins (American, late 19th century) composed of white linen. The napkins are decorated with a fringe border along the outer edge, a red, white, and blue embroidered border made up of blue squares with leaves at the corners containing red forms, and the superimposed monogram “ACV”, for Alice Claypoole Vanderbilt (1845-1934). The “A” and “C” are embroidered in red and outlined in blue while the “V” is embroidered in gold outlined in blue. The white linen is woven in a combination of weave patterns, the outer 1/4” is in a twill weave while the inner is plain weave with warp and weft floats. These napkins would have been made for use at either The Breakers or the Vanderbilt’s New York City address at 1 West 57th Street.

American

linen

16.5" x 16.5"

Gift of Mr. Eugene B. Roberts, Mrs. Lynn S. Roberts, and Miss Anne C.B. Roberts, 2005.

2005.14.37a-x