If the fabric is not a tight enough weave, when you sew seams and put any tension on them, the threads could pull apart. I think the table top idea is wonderful. I might even put a piece of glass on top of it to protect it from spills.

perhaps you could use a lightweight iron-on stabilizer. it's really beautiful. i'm partial to red. if you do decide to do a quilt, maybe use the fabric as a single large center block. Something like this
[ATTACH=CONFIG]304399[/ATTACH]

cool, make a special wall hanging. it would be perfect.

That looks like a linen tablecloth to me. I have seen similar in different colors and designs through the years. Drapes well and washes up like a dream. Great find!

I don't know if it is 100 years old or not, but it sure is pretty. I too, would use it as a tablecloth, only I would put a clear plastic tablecloth over it ( the kind you buy at Wal-Mart) so it doesn't get ruined.

There are also a couple of really good books on dating fabric. I'm not sure the name of the authors but if you check out amazon you should be able to find them.

That's a good idea. Thanks.

Is the pattern woven or printed? If woven it might be a type of "damask" and used for table linen. Older would be natural fibers and more modern may have synthetics. It looks 1940-50ish to me. The iris pattern looks like decorator fabric, not dressmaking goods.

It is a woven print. I now believe that this is a coverlette for a bed, not a tablecloth.

Turkey reds fade to brown due to the chemicals even if kept in a closet. I have several from my childhood that were in my grandmothers stash. They are still lovely to me but others think not so. It looks to be from the 20's. I would back it and bind it and lay it across a chair back or couch back and enjoy it. Maybe cut a large square frame it with an info card down in the corner about it. JMHO