Wow, that's quite an impressive piece of filet crochet! How big is it? You are right that it probably would not be easy to hang.

You could use it as a table runner, or a table cloth on something small like an end table.

If you do decide to display it, keep an eye on it for signs of dry rot or damage. It could be that keeping it in a blanket chest all these years has preserved it.

Donna

Thanks for the answer. I just measured -- about 65x78. I don't think I'll ever display it. Do people ever use something like it? What does filet crochet mean? I know nothing about crochet.

filet crochet describes a style where you make a lacy background and do the pattern in solid stitches...
It's fabulous! Simply wonderful!!
I sure would put it on a bed in the guest room if ti were mine....and remove it to sleep. Or I would put it on my dining room table...it would fit nicely without leaves.....and with a light blue under cloth, look great!

Again, my thanks for the information. I appreciate the way people on this forum are willing to share their knowledge. I was getting ready to store it in a plastic bin and had second thoughts because I know some things need to breath. Is this one of them, do you think?

Yep.....breathing is good for most things...:-) wrap it in a clean white sheet....double rinsed without fabric softener...not sure what harm softener may do....but the absence of it won't hurt at all.

Are you storing it in a wooden box? Cardboard? both are acid and will eventually rot fabric....but a cedar chest seems to be ok....wonder why?

It has been in either a blanket chest -- not sure of the type of wood, but nothing has rotted in it yet or a cedar chest. Recently and for now it will be the cedar chest along with several old quilts -- something else I never use, but cannot seem to part with. This clearing out unused stuff is hard!

Its a very beautiful piece of work. A museum of country and pioneer art might be interested in it. They could advise you about how to store it. If it was hand made, and not by machine, it could be worth more than you suspect.

My mother crocheted. Her pieces were much smaller, usually 10 to 12 inch diameter. Some had frilly borders. Most were used on end tables and dressers. She heavily starched those and ironed to shape. After this treatment, the pieces were stiff and would hold shape until laundered again. I do NOT advocate that you starch your very large piece. Your piece appears to have no starch and thereby is more easily stored.

It is beautiful!! What a treasure.

I'm quite sure it is hand crocheted, I've made a shawl with roses in filet & it involves a lot of counting. This is beautiful & looks like fine cotton, it may fall apart if washed, I thought I would wash a black cotton purse my mom had nearly finished & minute it hit the lukewarm water with bit of Wool lite it dissolved, just mess of 1/4 threads in the water. I would think a museum would be thrilled to get it, especially because of the Eagle & the sheaves, must have taken a very long time to make it! Represents our country nicely!

I just wanted to add, as sunnyca_gw, did above, that piece belongs in a museum. It's absolutely gorgeous and must have taken a lot of time to me. It's just beautiful.

I just realized: That "eagle" is patterned after the "great seal of the United States". It has a shield in front, a bundle of arrows in one claw, and an olive branch in the other claw.

I had wondered if my great-grandma made it for the centennial because of the seal pattern. If it's the great-grandma I think it was she was pretty busy with kids, but this may have been her escape.

Filet crochet is basically open squares over the whole piece, and some squares are filled in or partially filled in to create images or a design. This would have required hours and hours of exactly worked stitches. It looks like the crochet thread used was a size 10 or what is called bedspread cotton. I crocheted a filet table cloth to use on our dining room table when the whole family is here, and it took me a couple of years to complete.

I really appreciate the information all of you have given me about this. Thank you all so much.

This surely looks Victorian to me.

Well....considering the Victorian era extended from 1837 to 1901, it most likely is.