What color is your antimacassar?

[trof]

A kind of oil formerly used in dressing the hair; - so called because originally obtained from Macassar, a district of the Island of Celebes.

"MRS. RAEBURN, NORTH BRIDGE, Has just received A FRESH supply of that beautiful production, MACASSAR OIL, for the HAIR, a preparation that surpasses all others for eradicating all impurities of the Hair, and increasing its growth where it has been bald for years; strengthening the curl, and imparting a beautiful gloss and scent; in fine, rendering the hair of ladies, gentlemen, and children inexpressibly attracting. View Rowland’s Essay on the Hair. This inestimable Oil has also received the august patronage of their Royal Highnesses the Princess of WALES and Duke of Sussex, and a great number of the nobility."

ANTIMACASSAR:
A protective or decorative cloth over the back of a chair.

Kept the oil off of the upholstery.
Usually white lace or crochet.
Washable.
http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-ant1.htm

What color is yours?

[skygazer]

1. Kind of macassar colored

And rather oily....

[Gormy Cuss]

2. But Ma, why aren't these called doilies too?

I learned to call them antimacassars even though none of the women in my extended family knew why they were called that, and they ALL crocheted them.

Doilies are for china closets and vanities. ;-)

[trof]

3. Now that's good to know.

Proper nomenclature is important.