Vintage and Antique Linens by Em's Heart
Masterpiece Italian Linen Supper Cloth
with Embroidery and Tassels
Item Number T16404
(Masterpiece is a word I reserve for things that make me audibly gasp...)
Italian linens were known for elaborate, romantic embroideries that embody the best in design, workmanship and materials. The linen was commonly "wet spun" by hand, a process that is no longer done on a large scale. This process produces the finest, coolest hand and drape imaginable. This piece has embroidery after the Ayershire whitework style, in elaborate, heavily padded satin stitched flower borders and repeated designs.
The inner panel is widely drawn..the decorative center thread of the drawnwork is missing or broken in several places. There was an extraordinary repair to the inner whitework embroidery that I only found when I was ironing the piece on the wrong side! I trimmed and reinforced the patch with a few extra stitches so it is virtually invisible, see below. The outer edge of filet lace has just a very few tiny breaks where the tassels have come off. 12 tassels are missing from the approximately 150 or so on the piece. This one will make you wish for an Italian villa in the country side... c.1890 - 1910 Excellent condition with fine repair to inner border. Freshly laundered and pressed. 51" X 51" including lace and tassels.
Item Sold
Above photo best for color. The piece is beautifully white.
