Vintage, Handmade & One-Of-A-Kind Linens & Hankies

HANDMADE ADDS TO YOUR HOME

In olden times, the traditional bride's dowry began with her hope chest of linens.

As soon as she could manipulate needle and thread, she practiced embroidery and lace making, adding piece after piece to the chest. Friends and relatives contributed treasured antique and vintage heirloom linens.

Perhaps a talented aunt invented her own figural lace patterns; a variety of figures, cherubs, birds, kittens, etc. in cutwork, needle or filet lace became figural lace borders or inserts. Another busied her hands with dainty Irish lace; still another stitched exquisite Society Silk or Madeira Marghab style embroidery. All of these would decorate the bride's linens. Occasionally several women would work together to create one gorgeous, unique piece with figural and Irish lace, Madeira embroidery and whatever other techniques their nimble fingers could execute.

One by one, a lifetime supply accumulated.

As her needs progressed from the wedding hankie to the Christening cap, her hope chest provided a seemingly endless variety of linens. Whether she needed sturdy tablecloths and huck linen towels for her kitchen, table runners, dresser scarves and guest towels to decorate her home or linen damask tablecloths with monogrammed napkins for a sit-down dinner, she was prepared!

The most elaborate of these were "saved for best" and used only on very special occasions. Exquisite pieces of Normandy lace, Marghab and Society Silk embroidery have survived almost untouched for generations. Even everyday, household linens were frequently embroidered, monogrammed or lace edged. 

Antique and vintage linens add a warm, heirloom feeling to your home. What could be more personal than the lace tablecloth handmade by your own grandmother? But, aside from sentimentality, a linen doesn't have to be antique or vintage to be charming. It is the one-of-a-kind effect, usually achieved by handwork of some kind, that makes each piece special. 

Many of our older linens come from Connecticut estates. Each has been selected for that certain something that makes it unique. Whether you prefer antique, vintage or brand-new linens, enjoy browsing through our site. You, too, may find that certain something that will be just right for your home.