Date: November 2012
I have always liked putting things into things. Beautifully designed and practical storage, like boxes and bags, appeal to me. Way back in May 2009, my husband was attending an auction and came across a sewing table that he thought I might like. I have it today and it sits next to my sewing chair and I use it both as a table and as storage of sewing supplies.
I have no idea how old the table is, nor what woods were used to make it, or where it was made. It was purchased at a deceased estate auction in Yarralumla in Canberra and we also picked up some other lovely pieces of old silverware, and a beautiful coffee table as well.
I don't quite know what to call this piece of furniture. I think of it as a sewing box table and this article provides a little bit of historical information on antique work tables for sewing and crafts
If you google images of antique sewing tables you find quite a lovely selection of old and interesting tables.
If you happen to be a Cranford fan, you would know of the wonderful scene where the lovely young doctor is attending a deceased estate auction and he bids on small table for his home. He has arrived in the village and his empty house needs furniture. It is only after he has seriously outbid some of the fussy old ladies of the village and arrived to collect his piece of furniture that it is explained to him that this is a needlework sewing table. Despite his disappointment, given he is a gentleman, he naturally enough honours his commitment, purchases it and takes it home. He then 'lends' it to his middle-aged widowed housekeeper who manages to misconstrue the gesture. When this and other gestures are added together in the romantically over-imaginative minds of the village ladies much comic, but some awkward moments unfold between the lovely doctor and the women of the village. My daughter and I giggle over that scene every time. We also love the pyjamas for the cow, but that's a whole other sewing story.
Anyway, after my lovely husband brought home a needlework sewing table for me, I didn't misconstrue the gesture at all. However it did need to be restored and as we have no special skills in this craft of furniture restoration, I found someone in the local area who looked promising - Brown's furniture recovery was in a rural area just outside Canberra. He came and picked up the table and re-lined it for us and polished the wood of the sewing table to a beautiful glossy finish. I was thrilled with the transformation.
Below are photos that my husband took at the estate sale back in 2009. He was on his own but would have liked to have some confirmation that I really did want this table. He sent the photos through to me, however, I didn't have time to take a look at them before he needed to bid on the table, so he went ahead and gave it a go, and got it! I was so thrilled when he brought it home. I was also very curious about the little bits and bobs that the previous owner had left in the table. I kept them as a collection of things. Some of the nicer pieces that appealed to me I have kept in the sewing table. It appeared that she had a handmade felt tape measure that had girl guide symbols embroidered on it. As Tess was at guides I found this a sweet touch of connection. She also had some tatting bobbins and a huge collection of embroidery scissors. I like that I've got her table and have restored it and given it a new life.