Antique RED STRIPE & MONOGRAM Towel German^i^

Thick homespun cotton, plant fibers visible, multi red stripes, 19 1/4" x 36 1/2", red hand embroidered monogram (original blue stencil outline remaining which will remove with a launder), no holes/thins/blemishes, UNUSED, normal weave imperfections, and other than needing removal of any/all 'normal' surface storage remains which will remove with a launder, in EXCELLENT condition. Perfect kitchen countertop displays for your homespuns or linen towels are shown. You could use any old Shaker wood box that is large enough, a dough bowl, a piece of salt glaze, an old wooden sifter, or fill a Longaberger basket and place it in the bathroom..:-) If you are not fond of the red or blue stripe towels, picture a basket or container of your choosing filled with decorative linen damask items. Still yet, cut up and make patchwork pieces and toss in a sewing basket filled with a variety of textile textures from hemp sacks and yarns to buttons, just for the pleasure of touching, or, or, or!:-) (Props NOT included).

TIMELESS HERITAGE PIECES FOR THE NEXT GENERATION!

DEFINITIONS and INFORMATION

ANTIQUE: decorative object made at an earlier period and according to various customs laws at least 100 years ago. I will be using anything prior to 1930.

VINTAGE: of old; dating from the past: OLD, OUTMODED, OLD-FASHIONED.

ESTATE SALES: household sales, moving sales, rummage sales, etc., all sales coming from an estate.

EUROPEAN means exactly that, “European” and does not by any means limit the items from Germany only. Folks have moved from one Country to another much as we move from one State to another. Exquisite Irish lace is sent as a gift to Norway from a friend, a piece of Belgian lace is now in Germany, or a piece of Italian lace is now in Austria, just as an East Lake piece is now on the other end of the USA.

FABRICS: antique French linen and cottons, as well as European German linen and cottons are simply exceptional. Offered remnants (patchwork pieces) or unused yardage are from the material/fabrics that were used when making the European Euro Sham and Floral Duvet Covers. These fabrics have been stored in old linen closets, hope chests, trousseaus, etc., from the Country farmlands to the Urban areas in all of Germany, including surrounding Countries not limited only to France, Belgium and Italy. There is no domestic fabric that can compare to the quality of antique and vintage European textiles from the primitive rustic hemp linen grain sacks, to the most striking double damask Egyptian cottons. The florals are perfect for any Chic, Shabby, English garden, romantic cottage or French country decor, and the linen hemp rolls are yet useful for utilitarian purposes (barn, laundry bag) or remake into bolster pillows, rugs, or anything altered artistic that you can come up with.

There are incredible antique lace patterns that are traceable to the Country of origin, as well as distinctive linens and textiles. Only if I am certain will I state where a piece is made, otherwise I describe as ‘European’ or where the item was purchased.

There are many sellers that are reputable and honest, and equally as many selling ‘words’ and ‘fluff’. Please be careful.

'Why' many antique and vintage linen pieces are mint, near mint, perfect, never used, etc. As most of the vintage floral country cotton and flax linen fabrics (mangle cloths, grain sacks, towels, homespuns) are coming from the farmlands of Germany (hence Farmer’s linen), I will explain. There are many little towns/villages/farming communities in Germany and items have sometimes been stored for 100 years or more, tucked away in trousseaus/hope chests/linen cupboards, etc., or to use for ‘someday’, or pass on. As families passed on and the heirlooms were not wanted by the next generation, the household linens (Linen sheets, Euro shams, hand embroidered tablecloths, nightdresses, lace hankies etc.) are made available for sale in one form or another. Whew, I hope that answers a lot of questions.:-)