Black Tablecloth

[horseshoes]

Hi all. I have acquired a beautiful black, either silk or organza, tablecloth which has a dragon on it. I'm assuming it is Chinese as I previously had another one in white linen. I'm quite sure its old. Does anybody have any idea why, when or where one would use a black tablecloth. Thanks in advance.

[Octavius]

When having a takeaway from Wing Kei?

Providing of course it complimented your overall d�cor.

[Octavius]

I was wring, its Wong, not Wing.

[terambulan]

when you have black friends to dine.....to appease their senses as some object to anything white.

[naomi24]

You've posted this in R&S, so I'm not sure what you mean. Are you talking about some religious ritual? If not, and you're talking about dinner parties, then use it any time - as long as you have the appropriate china, cutlery, glassware, and napkins to complement it. Nothing wrong with a black tablecloth.

[Octavius]

I should think when the mother in law is around for supper, that one dragon at the table is plenty. So go for plain that day.

[horseshoes]

Thank you one and all. It's not quite what I meant though. I had the notion that it may for something special (and before you go there - I don't mean a black mass supper party)

I thought it may be something to do with Chinese or Japanese culture. I wasn't sure which part of Society & Culture to put it in so maybe this was the wrong place. - Sorry. But thanks for all your ideas.

[terambulan]

Here you are:

http://spectacularvancouver.wordpress.com/2006 /11/27/chinese-culture-five-elements%E2%80%A6f ive-colors/

Black is heavenly

[horseshoes]

That's what I was after!! I also have a Chinese student going to have a peep at a photo of it tomorrow. Thank you all again for your answers.

[naomi24]

Aha! So that's the answer. Well done Terambulan.

[Octavius]

Not quite though is it.

Black meaning heavenly, with the greatest will in the world, doesn't really clarify when a tablecloth should be used now does it.

[naomi24]

Very true, although Terambulan did better than us in getting that far,so my congratulations to him stand. Maybe there isn't a specific time or place to use it. Black is used in 'Feng Shui' to bring stability, so perhaps that's it. (And before you ask, I googled that).

[horseshoes]

I'll be showing the tablecloth to a Chinese student today to see what he says. I think it will be quite difficult to take a good photo of it as it has a shine to it but I'll do my best. I'll tell you what he says.

[Theland1]

Maybe it was to not show up the stains from messy eaters?

[naomi24]

Any news, horsehoes?

[horseshoes]

No, I'm afraid not Naomi. I was hoping the Chinese student would get back to me but he didn't. I bought it in a job lot of linen, which sometimes I keep, and sometimes I sell. Put it this way, the bits I sell pay for the bits I keep!!! I was going to keep it, but now I've decided to sell it because although it is very beautiful - it's not really something I'd get that much use from. Neither is it a piece which would display well unless opened out in full and I don't have the room to do that!! You can see it on eBay if you'd like to take a peek (Item number 110309174177) I like to put as much info as I can onto my listings which was why I asked about it initially. Thanks to all again

[naomi24]

Wow! From your description, and the photos, it looks good - and it seems very inexpensive. Maybe you should take a trip to your local Chinese restaurant to see if they can help before you sell it. That's a serious suggestion, by the way.