Summary

Alternative Name(s): doiley; doilie; doyly; doyley

Five toy doilies, of varying shapes and sizes. Doilies are used as an ornamental mat, for furniture protection or food service. They are usually crocheted or made by embroidering onto cotton. The two oval ones appear to match, as each have a flower in the centre and are of a similar pattern. There is also one large cutwork embroidered doily, one small round lace doily, and one medium size cutwork embroidered doily with a silken finish.

Part of a dolls' house, built around 1920 by Neil McArthur for his much younger half-sister Elizabeth (Beth) Twycross, born in 1917. Neil made the doll's house out of found materials including cigar boxes; he also made many of the furnishings in the doll's house. Some of the contents of the doll's house may date back to the 1860s, played with by ancestor Charlotte Twycross; most date to either the 1920s or the 1940s-50s. In the early 1950s the donor was given the spruced-up doll's house as a birthday present by her parents. In later years her own daughter later added items, although she wasn't allowed to play due to its fragility.

Physical Description

Five toy doilies, of varying shapes and sizes. Two crocheted oval ones appear to match, with similar lacework patterning and a lace flower in the centre of each. Cream coloured. One large oval embroidered doily, with a diamond shape cutwork decoration in the centre and decorative edge. Off-white coloured. One small round crocheted doily, in a circular pattern and cream coloured. One medium size embroidered doily with a silken finish. Cutwork oval in centre with floral motif.

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