Antique Linens/Textiles
Joan Lawrence
Latest Articles
What did a young princess of France in 1397 have in common with a young New York girl in the year of 1910? Nothing but their trousseau, which contained similar pieces of fabric and used for the same daily acts, separated only by time.
This is my last article. It has been ...
THE TRADITION OF THE MARRIAGE FABRIC, SUZANI
For one hundred years silk embroideries, called Suzani, were considered precious positions of a family in Central Asia. The translation of Suzani means "needle" in Farsi. Let's explore this wonderful tradition, so we can better understand why this fabric was so important to a young girls family.
Exploring the textiles of the Native American, can not be described in only one article. So I decided to talk about the Muskogean Tribe or a.k.a Creek.
TEXTILES OF THE ARTS AND CRAFTS MOVEMENT
The Arts and Crafts Movement (1890 - 1929) came from England in reaction to mass product and systematization, as the United States started industrializing. So, lets explore this time in history and visualize the beautiful textiles that were used.
Coverlets are one of the earliest forms of American weaving, and dates back to the eighteenth century. Back in the Colonial days, people were busy growing, retting, scutching and spinning their own flax into linen yarns. They were also shearing, carding and spinning their wool into yarn. One would always find ...
COLLECTING "OLD GLORY"...THE AMERICAN FLAG
There is nothing like the vision of the American Flag and the vivid colors she so proudly possesses when we hear her snap in the days' breeze. Flags and banners had always commanded power in the past, and now when I see an American flag, I think of parades and community ...
EMBROIDERED PICTURES-SILK TREASURES OF YESTERYEAR
Embroidered silk pictures are also known as "petitpoint".
Last year I received an email from one of my readers about a lovely silk petitpoint of an 18th century domestic scene, which she needed more information about. So, I thought this would be a good topic for this months article.
If one was to look up the word, "regalia", the dictionary will offer many definitions. The first being, The emblems and symbols of royalty; the distinguishing symbols of a rank officer, order, or society, magnificent attire or finery.
The "Feed Sack" is as American as apple pie, especially when Eli Whitney's Cotton Gin was making cotton inexpensive enough for these sacks to replace boxes, barrels, and tins. Did you know that each sack was stamped with the farmer's name?
WOVEN SILK PICTURES AND STEVENGRAPHS...FABRICS OF SOCIETY
Take the simple idea of weaving pictures or portraits in silk, and placing them in the homes of the weatlthy. One of the earliest silk portraits was of Jacquard, the inventor of the loom. This was produced by the firm, Carquillat, and was first introduced in 1840. Carquillat and Potton, Rambaud ...