Collecting Vintage Linens
Linens once considered a vital part of a young woman’s trousseau are once again valued for their craftsmanship and beauty. Vintage cotton, damask, silk, and linen are beautiful fabrics that have withstood the test of time. Particularly, they add an element of grace and beauty to your home and a sense of timelessness.
In time past, women would often create their own personalized linens which displayed their sewing abilities. From tablecloths and napkins to bed linens and guest towels, these linens were carefully stitched with floral designs or beautifully intricate monograms and stored in a hope chest for use one day in the young woman’s married home.
Types of Linens:
Linens fall into categories by type or by intended use. For our purposes, because there are so many distinct types of linens (for example Portuguese and French Antique Linens, Victorian Silk Embroidery, etc.), we will use categories based on their intended use – bed linens, table linens, etc. A well-stocked home would have linens for each category in styles from casual to formal.
Bed Linens
Bed linens would include chenille bedspreads, matelassé, lace or silk coverlets, quilts and vintage sheets and pillowcases. The sheets and pillowcases embroidered with floral motifs and or elaborate monograms added elegance and style.
Table Linens
A young girl’s hope chest would be filled with assorted sizes, shapes and types of tablecloths. Tablecloths would come in round, square, rectangle, and oval shapes in multiple sizes to fit different tables. Additionally, there would be table runners, tea towels, and bread-basket liners. Napkins would be in varying sizes as well – from dinner to cocktail. These table linens feature enhancements such as embroidery, lace and/or monograms.
Bath Linens
Bath linens would include towels of course, but also shower curtains, bathmats, and guest towels.
Other Linens
Other linens include handkerchiefs for both males and females. Additionally, doilies and dresser scarves serve to protect the surface of the wood.
Is This Vintage or Not?
In determining the age of vintage linens, one must familiarize yourself with a few details. It is not as hard as you might think. Look at the craftmanship of the piece. Vintage linens will offer details not readily found in modern day linens.
Fabric
Linens prior to the late 1930’s feature natural materials – linen, flax, silk and cotton for example. Synthetic fabrics like nylon (invented in 1935) and synthetic blends came into play mostly in the 1940’s. While still collectible, these fabrics and fabric blends help show the “newness” of the linens. To learn more about dating fabrics, be sure to check out Marye Audet’s article Vintage Fabrics.
Embroidery
Elaborate embroidery or monograms is typically a dead give away to the age of the piece. Look at the back of the piece and see if there are small, hand-tied knots on the embroidery.
Hand-Stitching
Hand-stitching shows that the linen is not mass produced. Look for uniform and small stitches made with a single thread.
Lace
If lace was added to a piece, look to see if it was added by hand versus machine. Hand-made lace and tatting were often added to the edges of handkerchiefs, pillowcases, and tea towels. Some tablecloths were made completely from hand-made lace and are a treasure.
Factors That Determine the Value of Vintage Linens
When it comes to determining the value of vintage linens there are several factors that come in to play. Obviously, unused and pristine linens translate into higher values automatically, but finding pristine pieces is a challenge. Here are the factors you should focus on:
- Condition – Stains, tears, fraying, loose threads, deterioration of the fabric. Unless you just love a piece and cannot live without it, we suggest avoiding pieces with tears. Careful laundering removes many stains. Normal wear and tear are to be expected, of course.
- Quality – The quality of the fabric and of the craftmanship will impact the value of your linens. Typically, the most valuable linens are anything French, monogrammed, and vintage lace.
- Age – like with all antiques, the older the more valuable. However, all factors are used to value a piece. An older piece in poor condition will probably not be more valuable than a newer, higher quality piece in good condition.
- Size – The larger a piece, the more valuable it can be simply because there is more material.
- Usefulness – It may seem a little odd, but how useful a linen piece is can make it more valuable. Take for example a vintage tablecloth versus an antique doily. The tablecloth will have more value.
Prices of Vintage Linens
The wonderful thing about vintage linens is that collecting them can be quite affordable. You can purchase small linens like doilies and handkerchiefs for example for just a few dollars. The prices rise from there and can grow to thousands for antique silk curtains for example.
For more information on vintage linens, check out these articles:
Vintage Linens: Identifying Textile Treasures of the Past written by Kate Miller-Wilson
What You Need to Know About Collecting Vintage Linens written by Kim Cook
From Lace Tablecloths to Cotton Towels: The World of Vintage Linens written by Emma Castleberry
Where to Find Vintage Linens
There is always a great selection of vintage linens at Rare Bird Antiques of course. Other antique thrift stores are reliable sources for shopping. Check out your local estate and garage sales as well. These are particularly good sources for affordability.
In conclusion, use your vintage linens. Set a beautiful table. Dress a gorgeous bed. Appreciate the history and the craftsmanship.
