Lucy Ricardo’s Lace Tablecloth

Lace Tablecloth in Episode "Fred and Ethel Fight"
Lace Tablecloth in Episode “Fred and Ethel Fight”

In the episode of I Love Lucy entitled Fred And Ethel Fight
Lucy and Ricky try to patch up the Mertzes’ quarrel by inviting each to dinner without the others knowledge. On the dinner table we see a fancy lace tablecloth of a type that was very popular in the 1950s. This is a Quaker Lace tablecloth model no 4161. It has a pretty floral design with baskets of daffodils around the edge and a distintive oval motif in the center. It is a cotton machine lace tablecloth measuring 65″ by 80″.

You can find vintage  Quaker Lace tablecloths on eBay and Etsy,  I located one like Lucy’s on eBay this week   – photo below – at http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lovely-Quaker-Cotton-Floral-Lace-Tablecloth-Daffodils-Looped-Hem-Label-65×80-/390948616851

Quaker Lace Tablecloth like the one on I Love Lucy - seen on eBay
Quaker Lace Tablecloth like the one on I Love Lucy – seen on eBay
Model Number of Tablecloth
Model Number of Tablecloth

Usually you can remove stains from vintage Quaker Lace tablecloths using Oxyclean, the one I wanted had several stains and I had to use a whole box of Oxyclean, and spot clean the worst spots with scoops of Oxyclean and hot water. but the result was well worth it.
Important: never use chlorine bleach on vintage Quaker Lace.

I love Lucy’s Mantel Statues: Seated Chinese Man Figurine

Lucy's Chinese Statue
Lucy’s Chinese Statue

This week on eBay there is a rare Chinese statue that will no doubt be familiar to I Love Lucy fans because it is just like one seen on the mantelpiece in most of the episodes, I did not know much about this statue until I saw the listing  of a similar one on eBay Click here for details. See also picture below. It is a seated figure of a man with what could be a bundle of Taro and holding a scythe in his left hand. This statue was made in the 30’s – 40’s and seems to be quite rare. It is a well made porcelain statue from the Jingdezhen region of China that was known for fine ceramics for centuries. This one listed as Famille Rose period that takes its name from the opaque paint used in made for export porcelain items from China.

Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Man Figurine on eBay
Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Man Figurine on eBay

From the listing description:

ANTIQUE 1930’s CHINESE PORCELAIN STATUE

REPUBLIC PERIOD (1912-1949)

中华民国 / 中華民國

FROM THE JINGDEZHEN KILNS

SIGNED: YOU LONG SHENG (游隆盛)

I Love Lucy’s Chenille Bedspreads

We can get a good view of Lucy’s colonial style chenille twin bedspreads in the Season 2 of “I Love Lucy” episode titled “The Girls Go Into Business” (October 12, 1953) in the very first scene when Lucy and Ethel come home from shopping and go into the bedroom.

The Ricardo's bedroom set - twin chenille bedspreads
The Ricardo’s bedroom set – twin chenille bedspreads

The bedspreads are hobnail chenille type bedspreads produced by Morgan-Jones, in style “Minuet” Early American. From the screen capture above it looks like Lucy’s bedspreads are placed with reverse side up compared to how they appear in the display photo below.
Fortunately for collectors you can find this make and model in the vintage bed linens section on eBay. I found a listing on eBay of this exact style still in original box in a full size, vintage unused and currently for sale on eBay – see pictures below, click on any picture to view the actual listing. Continue reading I Love Lucy’s Chenille Bedspreads