Collectors curate vintage tablecloth database

The Vintage Tablecloth Lovers Club fused their passion and knowledge of vintage tablecloths to create an extensive database of mid-century printed tablecloths.

According to the club, it is the only database of its kind and the largest repository of vintage printed tablecloth information. It contains photos of more than 1,500 mid-century printed tablecloths, and is organized by manufacturer and pattern name.

For vintage tablecloth collectors, there’s nothing more thrilling than finding a colorful mid-century tablecloth with the original paper label still attached. Most vintage tablecloths, though, come with no identifying information. With the database in place, collectors can tap into the world’s largest database of vintage tablecloths to help them identify what they have.

Plus, members of the Vintage Tablecloth Lovers Club will continue to add newly identified tablecloths to the database.

“Our members, driven by their shared love of vintage tablecloths, have painstakingly created a comprehensive record of mid-century textiles,” said Jimmie Bucci, Club President. “You’re not going to find this information anywhere else. It’s really quite unique and fascinating.”

Each tablecloth submitted for the database is carefully authenticated with a process developed by club members. The online catalog is the result of work that began in 2009. The database is searchable by manufacturer, pattern, designer, category and keywords. Collectors can also browse through the entire database. The database is only available to members of the club, but the annual membership fee is modest.

“The annual membership fee of $25 costs less than a single published tablecloth book containing

only a few dozen photos of mid-century tablecloths,” said Club President Jimmie Bucci. “Members get 24/7 access to the database with over 1,500 listed tablecloths and counting, along with a number of other club resources and benefits, including fun activities and the comraderie of others with the same interest.”

In the mid-20th century, there were hundreds, if not thousands, of tablecloth manufacturers. For several decades paper labels were used. The labels were usually discarded, and thus the tablecloth’s identifying information (manufacturer and pattern name) was also lost. Over time manufacturers stopped using paper labels and started using sewn-in cloth tags, which made tablecloths easier to identify. The Vintage Tablecloth Lovers Club database includes tablecloths with both paper and sewn-in tags from the 1930s to the 1970s.

To learn about the club, or to join and get access to the database, go to http://vintagetableclothloversclub.com.