THE STORY OF THE HAND WORKED LACE AND CROTCHET OF THE GRAND-MOTHER AND MOTHER OF ELEFTHERIA ZOGRAFOU (NEE CALOMIRIS)
The handworks entrusted to Eleftheria Zografou were completed in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s by her grand-mother ELENI TRANAKIDIS, married to PELOPIDAS, and her mother ARIADNE CALOMIRIS (nee TRANAKIDIS).
The family TRANAKIDIS were originally from GALLIPOLI in Asia Minor. Their trade was in shipping. With the end of the war with the Ottomans, and the expulsion of Christians from Asia Minor in 1922, the ships were left to ‘the greater cause of Greece for its defence’ against the Ottoman defence forces. The then King of Greece dubbed the family ‘TRANOS’ from their name of TRANAKIDIS.
The family left troubled Gallipoli early in the uprising of the Turkish Nationals against the Sultan’s rule and genocide of Christians which began in the northern and eastern parts of the country and rapidly moved south and west.
The family found an opportunity to emigrate to Alexandria, Egypt.
VASILIOS (BASIL) CALOMIRIS was born on Samos Island in Greece. He was a young boy when his family moved to Egypt. As a young adult, Vasilios served in the Greek army in Egypt during World War 2. The Greek Government of the time never paid Vasili for his military service, nor did they pay for treatment of injuries he sustained in the line of duty. Vasilios spent many months in plaster in hospital in Cairo.
Eleftheria remembers her mother and grandmother hand working many decorative pieces for the windows and furnishings of their home in Egypt. When the family migrated to Australia, it was difficult to use many of the pieces so lovingly worked and transported to their new country, as the homes did not have the high ceilings or windows designs of the homes in Egypt. Therefore, the curtain made by Eleni Tranakidis was folded carefully and stored away along with pelmet covers.
As was the fashion of the era, lace collars for necklines of dresses or crotchet edges for pillow slips or tablecloths and runners, were created using different weight cotton thread.
Eleftheria was entrusted with these works or art by her mother Ariadne Calomiris on her passing. Not having any daughters to entrust these pieces to, Eleftheria found herself in a dilemma as to whom she should entrust these pieces to for the future.
The Asia Minor Greek Historical Society Incorporated in Brisbane has, over many years, created a collection of artifacts, fabrics, handcrafted works, icons, books and other items which once belonged to the original migrant refugees of Asia Minor who settled in the South Brisbane areas in the early 1900’s. These items are displayed by the Society at a variety of events convened by the Society or in conjunction with other Greek associations of Brisbane.
Eleftheria finally found where she felt comfortable in entrusting her precious family items. So, on Monday 6th December 2021, Eleftheria presented the President of the Asia Minor Greek Historical Society Incorporated Mrs. Marina Campbell, with these items, in memory of ELENI TRANAKIDIS and ARIADNE CALOMIRIS.
The next step in the life of the handworks, is to determine exactly which pieces are crocheted, which pieces are lace work, which pieces are loomed, and which pieces are tatted. When that task is completed, the items will be labelled accordingly before being stored appropriately for displays etc.
Thank you, Eleftheria, for entrusting the Asia Minor Greek Historical Society Incorporated with these well-worked pieces. They will be cared for and displayed with pride, acknowledging the family history and connections.