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Napkins 2018-335,1-6
Tucker Family Damask Table Napkins
Napkins 2018-335,1-6

Tucker Family Damask Table Napkins

Dateca. 1790
OriginGreat Britain; owned in Bermuda
MediumLinen
Dimensions1 – OW: 27” x OH: 25”; 2 – OW: 27” x 25”; 3 – OW: 26 ½” x OH: 24 ½“, 4 – OW: 28 ¼” x OH: 33”; 5 – OW: 28 ½” x OH: 33 ½”; 6 – OW: 21” x OH: 25 ½”
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Edna G. Tucker and Ms. Wendy S. Tucker in memory of their husband and father, Edward Bolton "Teddy" Tucker, M.B.E.
Object number2018-335,1-6
DescriptionThis is a group of six linen damask napkins with embroidered initials, belonging to the Tucker family of Bermuda. 1 is a square napkin marked “TMT” and is hemmed on two sides. 2 is also marked, “TMT” and has an attached label that reads, “Thomas & Mary Fowle Tucker/of Harmon’s Hill – Somerset/circa 1770 – (79).” 3 is also marked with “TMT.” It is hemmed on two sides and has selvedges on the other two sides. 4 is marked “RST 1[?]” and is woven with a floral pattern. There is no attached label, but the napkin is likely from Robert and Sarah Tucker, like the fifth napkin. 5 is marked, “RST 13” includes an attached tag that reads, “Robert & Sarah Tucker/circa late 1700-1795/of Church-Hill, Somerset. It is hemmed on two sides and has selvedges on the other two sides. 6 has a marking of “RFT” and features a woven pattern of V-shaped sprigs, with one side bigger than the other. The napkin does not have an attached label, but is likely from Richard Jennings Tucker and Frances Tucker, who married in 1811. It is hemmed on three sides and has one selvedge.
Label TextThis group of six table napkins was owned by the Tucker family of Bermuda. Clearly cherished as family keepsakes, they descended in the family until they were given to the museum.
Markings#1: “TMT”
#2: "TMT” and has an attached label that reads, “Thomas & Mary Fowle Tucker/of Harmon’s Hill – Somerset/circa 1770 – (79).”
#3: “TMT.”
#4: “RST 1[?]”
# 5 “RST 13" and has an attached tag that reads, “Robert & Sarah Tucker/circa late 1700-1795/of Church-Hill, Somerset."
#6: “RFT”
ProvenancePer Wendy Tucker the napkins were a gift from Catharine Fitch Tucker (Feb. 28, 1879-Aug. 22, 1970) to her nephew, Edward Bolton (Teddy) Tucker, MBE (May 8, 1929-June 9, 2014).