I have been selling antique and vintage textiles on eBay since 2004 and have many returning customers. I try to list a wide variety of items from practical but beautiful household linens to heirloom lace, vintage clothing to textiles suitable for reworking. I have supplied large quantities of textiles to museums and film prop departments and much smaller items for amateur dramatic groups and schools. If there is anything that you need or desire that I do not have listed email me and I will try my best to help.
I have started a blog at http://the-antique-linen-cupboard.blogspot.com/ where you can see where and what I have been buying. I will try to include the provenance or history behind the collections that I buy and give you a peek of items waiting to be listed
Antique linens are historically interesting. They often commemorated events both public (coronations, exhibitions) and personal (births and marriages). A bride's trousseau furnished all the household linens that she anticipated using for the rest of her life and sometimes was part of her dowry. Quilts particularly were made for the trousseau and often the women of the family participated in their making. Usually each item was laundry marked or embroidered with a monogram and very often the date was also included. Dated and monogrammed pieces are now in high demand. Often linens were kept for "best" and then never used. These are the items that I sell as "unused". They will usually have evidence of long time storage and will need washing prior to use. I do not launder them as many customers like to receive the linens in the original condition.
The tradition of "waste not, want not" meant that items were repaired, remade and re-fashioned in order to reuse them. Clothing was remade to accommodate the latest fashions or as "hand-me-downs" for another person. Worn sheets become tablecloths and pillowcases, tablecloths were cut down to become napkins, pillowcases or towels. Holes in tablecloths were often disguised with the insertion of lace and hand crochet lace was made to decorate the plainest of linens. We are continuing this "environmentally friendly" practice today!
I source most of my linens and textiles at auctions througout the North of England and in Scotland. I buy and sell those that I would like to see in my own home and I want my buyers to be happy with their purchases and come back for more! I believe the quality of antique and vintage linens and textiles cannot be compared with modern day items and that you will get real value for money. I also sell some more modern day textiles if I feel that they provide quality and value for money.
Please be aware that most of the linens that I sell are old, have been pre-owned and used and as a result may have tiny flaws commensurate with age and use. Unless stated in the main description, these are not immediately noticeable. For example lace items may have tiny breaks to the bridges of the lace. There may also be some tiny stains and as mentioned previously most items will have a laundry mark or tag.
Business address - Rose Villa, Main Street, Crawcrook, NE40 4NB. UK
View this member's Reviews & Guides.
View this member's My World page.
To create your own About Me page, click here.
)
