Napkins with white butterfly and floral design and Hedwig Sanders Neu's initials that survived Kristallnacht
Extent and Medium
a: Height: 13.130 inches (33.35 cm) | Width: 13.130 inches (33.35 cm)
b: Height: 13.250 inches (33.655 cm) | Width: 12.500 inches (31.75 cm)
c: Height: 13.000 inches (33.02 cm) | Width: 13.000 inches (33.02 cm)
d: Height: 13.000 inches (33.02 cm) | Width: 13.000 inches (33.02 cm)
e: Height: 13.310 inches (33.807 cm) | Width: 13.000 inches (33.02 cm)
f: Height: 13.190 inches (33.503 cm) | Width: 12.810 inches (32.537 cm)
g: Height: 13.000 inches (33.02 cm) | Width: 13.500 inches (34.29 cm)
h: Height: 13.130 inches (33.35 cm) | Width: 12.500 inches (31.75 cm)
i: Height: 13.500 inches (34.29 cm) | Width: 12.750 inches (32.385 cm)
Archival History
The napkins were donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2018 by Nancy Shanes, the goddaughter of Beatrice Neu Melov.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Nancy Shanes
Scope and Content
Set of nine monogrammed, white napkins that survived Kristallnacht and were brought with Richard and Hedwig Sanders Neu when they immigrated to the United States with their daughter, Beatrice (later Melov) in late 1938. The napkins were originally part of Hedwig’s trousseau, and among the possessions that the Neu family packed in preparation for their emigration from Partenheim, Germany, in late 1938. Before they departed for the United States, they were staying with Beatrice’s grandmother, whose home was ransacked by the German authorities during Kristallnacht, November 9-10. Hedwig, Beatrice, and her grandmother hid in the garden, while Richard hid elsewhere. Many of the packed possessions were badly damaged during the attack, and some of those that survived, like several of these napkins, were stained by iodine from broken medicine bottles that they had originally been wrapped around. After several days in hiding, Richard returned once it seemed safe to do so.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Set of nine (a-i) square-shaped, off-white, cloth napkins bearing a matching white, woven pattern, a hemstitched border, satin-stitched initials in white. The repeating flower and butterfly design is woven into a wide band and bordered by scalloped and solid lines. In the middle, there is a small, square-shaped frame of small, angled leaves around a circular medallion with a flower at the center. In each corner of the frame is a small flower, and a gray-white monogram is stitched over the lower right one. d. There are small, light, brown-orange stains in the lower left section. e. There are small, light, brown stains along the right side, near a tear in the hemstitched border. f. There is a blue stain on the back, at the top left. g. A possible laundry mark is stitched in green thread on the lower left. h. A possible laundry mark is stitched in green thread on the lower left. i. A possible laundry mark is stitched in green thread on the lower left, and there are light brown stains near the initials.
a. front, offcenter, embroidered, white thread : HS [Hedwig Sanders] b. front, offcenter, embroidered, white thread : HS [Hedwig Sanders] c. front, offcenter, embroidered, white thread : HS [Hedwig Sanders] d. front, offcenter, embroidered, white thread : HS [Hedwig Sanders] e. front, offcenter, embroidered, white thread : HS [Hedwig Sanders] f. front, offcenter, embroidered, white thread : HS [Hedwig Sanders] g. front, offcenter, embroidered, white thread : HS [Hedwig Sanders] g. front, lower left,handstitched, green thread : 14 h. front, offcenter, embroidered, white thread : HS [Hedwig Sanders] h. front, lower left,handstitched, green thread : 14 i. front, offcenter, embroidered, white thread : HS [Hedwig Sanders] i. front, lower left,handstitched, green thread : 14
Subjects
- Kristallnacht, 1938
- Germany.
Genre
- Object
- Furnishings.
- Furnishings and Furniture