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vintage bath towels
Casacalenda, Molise, Italy
Date: early 1940s
Notes: Here are a set of home spun, hand sewn and hand embroidered bath towels made by Rosina Melfi for her linen trousseau. The words, "Good Morning," are written on one of the towels.
      Photo: Linda Melfi.
Contributed by: Rosina Melfi

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vintage 1940s doily
Casacalenda, Molise, Italy
Date: 1945
Notes: This doily was hand-made by Rosina Melfi for her linen trousseau.
      Photo: Linda Melfi.
Contributed by: Rosina Melfi

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vintage 1940s doily
Casacalenda, Molise, Italy
Date: Made in 1945
Notes: This doily was made by Rosina Melfi for her linen trousseau.
      Photo: Linda Melfi.
     
Contributed by: Rosina Melfi

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home spun linen dish cloth
Casacalenda, Molise, Italy
Date: made in 1941
Notes: This home spun linen dish cloth was made by the contributor's mother, Lucia Melfi, for her linen trousseau.
      Photo: Linda Melfi.
Contributed by: Rosina Melfi

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vintage 1940s hand embroidered table cloth
Casacalenda, Molise, Italy
Date: made in 1943
Notes: This tablecloth was embroidered by Rosina Melfi for her linen trousseau.
      Photo: Linda Melfi.
Contributed by: Rosina Melfi

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vintage 1940s hand-embroidered  runner
Casacalenda, Molise, Italy
Date: Made in 1942
Notes: This table runner was embroidered by Rosina Melfi for her wedding trousseau.
      Photo: Linda Melfi
Contributed by: Rosina Melfi

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vintage table napkins
Casacalenda, Molise, Italy
Date: early 1940s
Notes: Here are six miniature hand-sewn, hand-embroidered table napkins made by Rosina Melfi for her linen trousseau. Generally, most table nakins came in sets of 6, with matching runners or tablecloths. Most young women chose the design they would embroider on their linens; their sewing teachers then supervised their work.
      Photo: Linda Melfi
Contributed by: Rosina Melfi

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vintage night gowns
Casacalenda, Molise, Italy
Date: early 1940s
Notes: Here is a hand sewn, hand embroidered nightgown made by Rosina Melfi for her linen trousseau.
      Photo: Linda Melfi.
Contributed by: Rosina Melfi

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linen trousseau
Casacalenda, Molise, Italy
Date: made in the early 1930s
Notes: The hand-sewed and hand-embroidered pillowcase was made by Mrs. Teresa (nee Melfi) DiTullio for her linen trousseau in the early 1930s. Note the buttons used to close the pillowcase.... Often these buttons were "stolen" by the children in the family and used to play throwing games. Photo: Mary Melfi.
Contributed by: Teresa (nee Melfi) DiTullio's daughter

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linen trousseau
Casacalenda, Molise, Italy
Date: made in the early 1930s
Notes: Here is a detail of the pillowcase that was hand-sewn and hand-embroidered by Teresa (nee Melfi) DiTullio as a young woman for her linen trousseau. In the 1930s hand-sewed pillowcases and bedsheets generally had monograms on them -- the monograms consisted of the first letters of the owner's maiden name. The monogram on this pillow showcases the letters, "T" and "M" (Teresa Melfi). In the early 1930s white thread was cheaper than colored ones and that is why it was chosen. Regardless of a family's financial status, young girls were expected to know how to sew. They were generally removed from public elementary school at the age of ten, and then sent to "sewing school." With the help of their sewing teachers, young girls created beautiful linens, highly valued by their community. The designs on the linens were first drawn on paper, then that paper was attached to the material. After the embroidery was completed, the paper with the design was removed. Not only were the designs embroidered on the linens decorative, but the monograms on bed linens and pillowcases helped in their identification when they were brought to the public fountains for washing.
     
Contributed by: Teresa (nee Melfi) DiTullio's daughter

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