This Hanky has seen better days. It is over 100 years old.
Did my Great Great Grandmother, Elizabeth Mottram, embroider it as a gift for the marriage of her first child?
Or was it handed down as "something old"?
The answers to these questions are lost forever unfortunately.
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| This embroidered handkerchief is over 100 years old. It originally belonged to my Great Great Grandmother, Elizabeth Mottram (below). It has been carried by 7 brides over the years |
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| My Great Great Grandmother Elizabeth Mottram (nee Goulay) The original holder of the handkerchief |
In times gone past, it was a common tradition for a bride to wear a handkerchief, which was often handed down from one generation to another.
We know that the above hanky originally belonged to my Great Great Grandmother, Elizabeth Mottram, and was worn by each of her three daughters (pictured below) and four of her great granddaughters on their wedding days.
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| Ambrose Walker married Mary Mottram in a "private house" Havelock, Victoria, Australia Wednesday 21st May 1902 |
My Great Grandmother, Mary Mottram, was the first daughter to wear the handkerchief on her wedding day, to Ambrose Walker.
I have previously written about their wedding and the gifts received.
Mary did not have any daughters to wear
the hanky but four of her granddaughters wore
the handkerchief on their wedding days.
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| Madeline Mottram married Bill Batty Havelock, Victoria, Australia Tuesday, 23 March 1909 |
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| Eve Mottram married Jack Bilton at St Margaret's Church, Mildura, Victoria, Australia on Saturday 29th May 1920 |
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| Eve passed the handkerchief to my Aunty Phyllis who was the guardian until her death in 2008, when it was given to me for safe keeping. |
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| My Aunties in 1957 and 1958 |
Four of my Aunties wore the handkerchief as "something old" on their wedding days. One day soon, I shall track down wedding photos of the other two Aunts.
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| Click to see more Sepia Saturday posts |
This post was inspired by the fabric and lady sewing in this weeks Sepia Saturday theme picture.
Wow, I know it's torn, but gee it looks so good for being that old. Lovely photos, and especially the background to your blog itself.
ReplyDeleteThank you Karen. I appreciate your comments and compliments.
DeleteThat's a lovely tradition. How wonderful you still have the hanky. I love Madeline's Mottram's wedding dress.
ReplyDeleteHazel
Yes me too. I have admired wedding dress for many many years.
DeleteWonderful pictures! And indeed, what a lovely tradition to pass the handkerchief down from bride to bride. Traditions are growing fewer & far between these days. Hopefully, one day, their importance will resurge because they do truly mean so much when followed! Puts me in mind of the song "Tradition" from "Fiddler On The Roof".
ReplyDeleteI hope my daughter follows tradition when she marries :)
DeleteWhat a treat and how special. Those wedding photos are just glorious. Madeline's photos are so pretty.
ReplyDeleteI think that all the wedding dresses are gorgeous (well except for my great grandmother who seems to have been more practical).
DeleteI mean Madeline's flowers....got distracted - sorry.
ReplyDeleteHow fortunate you are to have such a treasure. This is a beautiful post, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHow fortunate that my Aunty retained and labelled things :)
DeleteA great post about the traditions of sewing, with beautiful needlework and photos.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if my Great Great Grandmother made it? Can't be sure.
DeleteTradition is so important. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I followed tradition on my wedding day, including the sixpence in the shoe.
DeleteOnce again we think alike! Wedding dresses and beautiful ones at that.
ReplyDeleteI knew the 'poem' re something borrowed but didn't know about wearing a hanky.
Normally the hanky was blue or had blue embroidery on it.
DeleteWhat a wonderful family tradition. I hope it can be kept going for a few more generations.
ReplyDeleteI don't think this hanky is in any condition to carry on the tradition. It would fall apart.
DeleteThat handkerchief has an interesting history.
ReplyDeleteMost likely has seen many tears. Don't most brides cry on their wedding day?
DeleteA lovely heirloom and such striking photographs. My favourite photograph that of Madeline. You are so lucky to have such wonderful mementoes that link several generations of your family history.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sue. Madeline was very striking on her wedding day.
DeleteWhile I have heard of this tradition, there is no lovely handkerchief in my family. I think it is marvelous that your great-great grandmother's has been passed along and that it didn't get lost or forgotten over time.
ReplyDeleteI phoned my Aunties who wore the hanky to see if they could tell me more. They had wondered what had become of the hanky but were not surprised to hear that Aunty Phyllis had retained.
DeleteThat is such a nice tradition and such a wonderful handkerchief to carry.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I should pass it to one of the daughters of the brides who wore it? However, I need to know that it will be treasured.
DeleteWhat a precious heirloom and such lovely needlework.
ReplyDeleteI would like to learn how to do this type of embroidery so I could replicate this.
DeleteA whole series of interlinks : the hanky linking generations of brides, the photos linking generations of the same family and the post linking Sepians around the world. Special.
ReplyDeleteWould mending it be possible before it falls to shreds?
ReplyDeleteI would expect jewelry to be passed on,
but this is lovely too,
even if a tad fragile.
:)~
HUGZ