TEXTILE COLUMN: Why I love MidCentury Cotton Printed Tablecloths Made in the USA
We Love the Beauty, Nostalgia and History
of the Printed Table Linens
From the 1940s and 1950s
These gorgeous tablecloths reflect the optimism of the post-war enthusiasm after WWII,
illustrating a cheerful time in America.
As a textile designer I love to look back at all the beautiful fabrics in fashion and home. From lace to wovens to prints, I love them all. I am particularly smitten with the printed tablecloths from the 1940s and 1950s, the specific ones that are a nice weighty yet soft cotton often seen with bold floral prints with red and French blue coloring and other bold combinations with usually a floral, fruit or vegetable motif but also sometimes patterns that depict everyday home and play life like women doing laundry, or tending a garden or children playing in a playground scene. There are sometimes stripes or geometrics incorporated into the pattern design as well. These remind me of my grandmother’s home, as well as my mother’s stylishg dinner parties where she incorporated these vintage items passed down by her mother and showcased in a modern, fashionable way.
Important to note- during the War (up to the 1940s), cotton was difficult to source and due to high demands for military uniforms the materials was scarce. So, it was considered a luxury item to buy tablecloths and home items during this time frame. Although many of these table linens were manufactured in the 1940s, after the war ended and during the boom-time of the 1950s the popularity of these patterns soared. There was a nation-wide focus on home life with the rise of the “Baby Boom” generation, and a renewed optimism (especially towards “Americanism” and products made in the United States). It seemed every home had one of these beauties. Today they create a genre we now call “kitch” but to me, it’s fun to see and remember a happy time in our culture and bring that optimism into my own home.
Important to note- during the War (up to the 1940s), cotton was difficult to source and due to high demands for military uniforms the materials was scarce. So, it was considered a luxury item to buy tablecloths and home items during this time frame. Although many of these table linens were manufactured in the 1940s, after the war ended and during the boom-time of the 1950s the popularity of these patterns soared. There was a nation-wide focus on home life with the rise of the “Baby Boom” generation, and a renewed optimism (especially towards “Americanism” and products made in the United States). It seemed every home had one of these beauties. Today they create a genre we now call “kitch” but to me, it’s fun to see and remember a happy time in our culture and bring that optimism into my own home.
Over the years my mother handed me down a closet filled with these beauties but I still pick up pretty ones at local flea markets, antique shows and even over at etsy.
Happy Nesting
XO Tamara
