Writing about the fabulous linen cupboard in Queen Mary's Dolls' House the other day led me to think about my own rather shamefully worn out collection of household linens. But amongst all the everyday items are things such as this small guest towel, not so easily found in the likes of John Lewis. The towel belonged to my grandmother, and below is some of her cutlery, monogrammed "EA" and given on her marriage in the 1930s.
The age these things represent is significant. Much more formal, prescribed and precise, here was a time when people dressed for dinner and entertaining was done at tables appointed with silver and elaborate dinner services; grape scissors, fruit spoons, candelabra and epergnes might be used, all manner of things which in our much more casual era are rarely seen outside grand homes.
Think of the bedlinen - underblanket, sheets and prettily embroidered pillowcases, blankets, quilt, counterpane (I remember Granny's glazed chintz one) - compared to the thrown over duvet of today. Our simpler lives save labour, of course, but while you can still have your silver engraved or your bedinen monogrammed for you, what was once commonplace is now so much more rare.
I use a duvet from choice not primarily from convenience. While I greatly admire the craft and skill that went into the items you show I am extremely glad I do not have to dress for dinner! I have two commissioned napkin holders made by a modern silversmith and they are used at every meal, but they are not monogrammed and indeed it wouldn't go with their 21st century style.
Posted by: Dark Puss | 27 January 2009 at 11:53 AM
What a beautiful 'days-gone-by' treasure! But as Dark Puss is glad to not have to dress for dinner, I'm certainly happy to not keep the masses of silver polished and the monogrammed linens crisp and white...at least not with the Kiddies around to drop peanut butter and jam on them! Guess I'd need a household staff to keep it up!
Posted by: Cheryl | 27 January 2009 at 01:37 PM
I read recently that past generations bought things that could be treasured, passed on and would last while we are a "veneer" generation - many things but not the real deal (look like the real thing but are not). Just an interesting thought of which your linens remind me.
Posted by: Rebecca Chapman | 27 January 2009 at 10:47 PM
Linen has been an important marker of social wealth and aspiration for longer than we normally realise - and further down the social scale. If you can bear it, after my critical posts, you only have to read George Eliot's Mill on the Floss to see that - it's a continual refrain.
Posted by: Lindsay | 28 January 2009 at 11:31 AM
My wee cottage in C. Scotland was a flax weaver's house built c 1800. The water-powered mill nearby, although used in the 20th C for sawing timber, was put up for processing the flax.
Posted by: Dark Puss | 28 January 2009 at 02:31 PM
Thank-you- this was/is a beautiful post to read. We've just cleaned out my grandmother's house and I now have some beautiful treasures- fur coats and gloves and all sorts of beautiful crockery. The only thing is, there's sadly not much need for them nowadays.
Posted by: Kaitlyn | 29 January 2009 at 12:24 PM
These are absolutely beautiful!! I wish that I had some linens to treasure. I do have lace doilies that my german granmother hand made.
Posted by: Bonnie | 01 February 2009 at 02:42 AM