Norma Benporath tatted cloth and scrapbooks
Object No. 2008/113/1
Norma Benporath (1900-1998) was an expert in tatting techniques and taught and published extensively on the subject. These examples of her work and instruction present a detailed account of the development of the technique which achieved significant popularity for women in Australia from 1930-1960. In 1952 she published her 164 page 'Every Woman's Guide to Tatting Illustrated' which was circulated in Australia and New Zealand. In conjunction with the Australian thread maker, Semco, Benporath developed special threads to suit the technique. Benporath also had a long association with the magazine 'Australian Home Beautiful' which requested articles for their glossy magazine. These were subsequently published in 'The Australian Home Beautiful Tatting Book' which progressed to a series. Benporath's crowning achievement was to be presented in 1998 with the Order of Australia for her 'service to the craft of tatting as a designer and through international publication of her patterns.'
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Summary
Object Statement
Tatted cloth and scrapbooks (2), cotton / paper, made by Norma Benporath, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 1930-1960
Physical Description
Tatted cloth and scrapbooks (2), cotton / paper, made by Norma Benporath, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 1930-1960 The tatted cloth is a rectangular table runner made to Benporath's design in cotton thread with a pattern of ten roundels surrounded by a border with scalloped edge. The thread probably began as cream but has become yellowed. The cloth does not appear to relate to any of the patterns in the scrapbooks. The scrapbooks contain Benporath's personal collection of her articles and patterns for magazines and newspapers in Australia and New Zealand dating from 1934 and 1935. One scrapbook contains patterns and articles collected in 1934 from The Australasian, The Queenslander, Australian Needlework, Home Beautiful, Everybody's Journal, The Sun, South Australian Homes and Gardens, The New Idea, The Weekly Times, Melbourne. The other scrapbook contains patterns and articles collected from 1934 and 1935 from The Housewives' Journal, The Illustrated Tasmanian Mail, New Zealand Women's Weekly, The Queenslander, Australian Needlework, The Weekly News (NZ), The Sun, South Australian Homes and Gardens, Australian Home Budget and New Zealand Free Lance.
PRODUCTION
Notes
The cloth was designed and made by Norma Benporath between 1930 and 1960 using her own special technique. Benporath compiled these scrapbooks on her articles and patterns illustrating the Tattering technique during 1934 and 1935.
HISTORY
Notes
Norma Benporath was born with cataracts on both eyes which severely restricted her sight. She was determined from a very early age to publish a book, though she was not sure on what subject. One family holiday she watched her aunt tatting and was told that this did not require such perfect eyesight as embroidery. Norma worked out her own way of mastering the technique. She copied all the patterns that were available to her and then designed her own. Her mother assisted by embroidering monograms and mounting her work. Her father made her a special tortoiseshell shuttle. In 1929 Norma began to write articles about the technique. When in 1998 she received the OAM, Norma did not realise that it was on the recommendation of members of the Australian Tatters' Guild, New South Wales Branch who had made her a life member. She kept the news a secret from them and they pretended it was a complete surprise! The presentation at Government House in Brisbane was the highlight of Benporath's life. Subsequently her health sadly deteriorated until she died in 1998 at age 97. Judith Connors was closely associated with Benporath and passed these objects on to the Museum on behalf of Benporath. She is also a keen tatter and has published on the subject.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Gift of Norma Benporath, 2008
Acquisition Date
29 May 2008
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