Embroidered table cloth, probably designed by May Morris, c. 1895, England.
Copyright Victoria and Albert Museum, London, acc. no. T.426-1993.
A table cloth is a textile of some form used to cover a table. Some cloths are designed to be spread on a table before placing the cutlery, glasses, food and so forth. Other cloths are ornamental in nature, with a secondary function of helping to protect the table from scratches and stains.
Ornamental table cloths may be made of virtually any material, including fine silks. Other forms are of heavy materials, such as felt or carpeting. The latter form is known under the general heading of table carpet. A table runner is a narrow length of cloth that hangs over the table at two ends only.
V&A online catalogue (retrieved 22 June 2016).
GVE
