Early whitework hanky with crown monogram circa early 1800s Fine early hanky with hand embroidered crown monogram circa early 1800s. This hanky measures 17.5 inches square, the crown monogram denotes nobility over a hand embroidered B. v. R. monogram (Baron von R...) It could have belonged to a man or woman, the fabric feels like silk, hand woven, very fine, light and soft! The edges of the hanky have finely embroidered flowers and leaves with sanding and teeny little cutwork embellishments. Over-all condition of this hanky is very good, there are only a couple small breaks near the monogram that are pictured, I have not washed it so it retains its patina. This was part of the Florence Colgate Speranza collection.
Circa: early 1800s
Condition: used
Color: cream  

12 Fine linen and handmade Cantu bobbin lace napkins with crown mono c1880s 12 Fine linen and handmade Cantu bobbin lace napkins with crown monogram circa 1880s. These white linen napkins measure 27.5 by 29 inches, the mitered corners and hems are hand stitched, there is a row of fancy drawnwork, one corner has a finely hand embroidered crown with 5 points, the opposite corner has Cantu bobbin lace inserts around a monogram that reads PR or RP, beautiful handwork on an item that certainly belonged to a family of titled nobility. 3 napkins have small hand done repairs, the other 9 napkins are in excellent condition, I have washed and pressed them. These are quite fabulous!
Circa: 1880s
Condition: 9 excellent 3 have good repairs
Size: 27.5 by 29 inches
Color: white  

Figural damask linen napkins armorial crest Provenance Samuel Colt estate Huge figural damask linen napkins with armorial crest Provenance Samuel Colt estate circa 1800s. This set of 11 white napkins measures 30 by 36 inches, they came from a direct descendent of the Famous Sam and Elizabeth Colt in Hartford Conn. maker of the Colt revolvers that shaped American history. The hand turned hems are hand stitched with almost invisible little stitches, the damask design has butterflies around the edge a ribbon wrapped frame with a background of little butterflies inside with a large armorial crest in the center topped by a lion rampant with a banner that reads FIDELE under it, an interesting combination. The napkins aren't perfect, most have a few small light stains or small holes, minor stuff, 1 has a 1/2 inch tear on the side and 1 has a 1 inch tear in the corner which are the only major flaws, they are all still quite useable, I have washed and pressed these. Its so hard to find these huge old napkins, especially with butterflies, a nice crest and provenance.
Circa: circa 1800s
Condition: good, flaws, see description
Size: 30 by 36 inches
Color: white  

Figural damask linen napkins armorial crest Provenance Samuel Colt estate Huge damask linen napkins with armorial crest Provenance Samuel Colt estate circa 1800s. This set of 4 white napkins measures 30 by 36 inches, they came from a direct descendent of the Famous Sam and Elizabeth Colt in Hartford Conn. maker of the Colt revolvers that shaped American history. The hand turned hems are hand stitched with almost invisible little stitches, the damask design has a wreath of lovely garden flowers with a large armorial crest in the center topped by a stallion holding a broken lance in its mouth and lion rampant, under the crest shield is a banner that reads Vincit Qui Patitur, an interesting combination. The napkins aren't perfect, most have a few small light stains or small holes, minor stuff, 1 has some rough edges, they are all still quite useable, I have washed and pressed these. Its so hard to find these huge old napkins, especially with butterflies, a nice crest and provenance.
Circa: curca 1800s
Condition: good
Size: 30 by 36 inches
Color: white  

Figural damask linen napkins armorial crest Provenance Samuel Colt estate Huge damask linen napkins with armorial crest Provenance Samuel Colt estate circa 1800s. This set of 13 white napkins measures 30 by 36 inches, they came from a direct descendent of the Famous Sam and Elizabeth Colt in Hartford Conn. maker of the Colt revolvers that shaped American history. The hand turned hems are hand stitched with almost invisible little stitches, the damask design has a wreath of lovely garden flowers with a large armorial crest in the center topped by a lion rampant over a shield of fleur de leis and feathers, under the shield is a banner that reads FIDELE, an interesting combination. The napkins aren't perfect, most have a few small light stains or small holes, minor stuff, they are all still quite useable, I have washed and pressed these. Its so hard to find these huge old napkins, especially with butterflies, a nice crest and provenance.
Circa: circa 1800s
Condition: good, flaws, see description
Size: 30 by 36 inches
Color: white  

Spectacular figural hand embr silk fringed bedspread Doris Duke estate Spectacular figural hand embroidered silk fringed bedspread Doris Duke estate early 1900s. This lipstick red and polychrome bedspread measures 89 by 97 inches not including the 9.5 inch hand knotted fringe. Doris Duke was an heiress, who was once one of the wealthiest women in the country, this bedspread most likely belonged to her parents then was inherited Doris herself who had exquisite taste. The design has colorful hand embroidered birds, and butterflies in a beautiful garden, just gorgeous! My pictures just don't do this piece justice as the colors are vivid and the birds show such movement! The back is a robins egg blue silk, all stitching is hand done. This piece is in excellent as found condition, it is still strong and could be tossed on the bed today, the fringe is also in very good condition. I often see the hand embroidered shawls with flowers, but large spreads like this are rare, with the birds, even more rare, this would have been a custom piece, you will not see another one like this! This will look fantastic on either a queen or king bed.
Circa: early 1900s
Condition: excellent
Size: 89 by 97 inches not including the 9.5 inch hand knotted fringe
Color: lipstick red and polychrome  

Handmade figural lace runner Provenance Samuel Colt estate circa 1900 Handmade figural lace runner Provenance Samuel Colt estate circa 1900. This ecru and cream lace runner measure 10 by 112 inches, it came from a direct descendent of the Famous Sam and Elizabeth Colt in Hartford Conn. maker of the Colt revolvers that shaped American history. The figures are stylized rampant lions and stars after the style of 16th and 17th century laces. The runner in excellent condition, I have washed and pressed it. Its hard to find lace runners this long!
Circa: circa 1900
Condition: excellent
Size: 10 by 112 inches
Color: ecru and cream
Country of Origin: IT  

Long handmade figural lace runner Provenance Samuel Colt estate circa 1900 Long handmade figural lace runner Provenance Samuel Colt estate circa late 1900. This ecru and cream lace runner measure 10 by 110 inches, it came from a direct descendant of the Famous Sam and Elizabeth Colt in Hartford Conn. maker of the Colt revolvers that shaped American history. The figures are stylized rampant lions and stars after the style of 16th and 17th century laces. The runner in excellent condition, I have washed and pressed it. Its hard to find lace runners this long!
Circa: 1900
Condition: excellent
Size: 10 by 110 inches
Color: ecru and cream
Country of Origin: IT  

Pair linen and lace layover shams Provenance Samuel Colt estate circa 1880s Pair linen and lace layover shams Provenance Samuel Colt estate circa 1880s. This light cream pair of shams measures 32 by 33 inches, they came from a direct descendant of the Famous Sam and Elizabeth Colt in Hartford Conn. maker of the Colt revolvers that shaped American history. The shams have a lovely 3.5 inch deep handmade bobbin lace edge with a bobbin lace insert just inside the edge all hand stitched to the linen. There are some small broken bridges in the lace they are otherwise in very condition, I have washed and pressed them.
Circa: circa 1880s
Condition: very good
Size: 32 by 33 inches
Color: light cream  

From Castle Howard dated 1863 linen damask bedspread or tablecloth From the famous Castle Howard is the beautiful hand loomed linen damask bedspread or tablecloth with a crown monogram dated 1863. This piece measures 106 inches wide and 140 inches long, as the center pattern is directional it could be used either as a large bedspread (would fit a queen or king bed) or a tablecloth. The hems are stitched by hand with teensy stitches, the gorgeous damask pattern in a William Morris style has a huge Oak tree in the center with acorns, at the bottom of this tree are fruits and vegetables of all kinds, I see a melon, carrots, peas or beans, grapes on the vine, and turnip. Around the edges of the cloth are flowers, shells, fruits and vegetables, every time I look at this piece I see things I hadn't seen before, its very detailed. In the lower right corner is a tiny red hand embroidered crown over a letter C 4 and the date 1863 (the C most likely stands for the Earl of Carlisle). This bedspread or tablecloth is in excellent condition, it is washed and pressed, the color is white. This is a high quality piece, the linen is tightly woven and weighty, no expense was spared in making this exceptional cloth! Castle Howard in York is considered to be one of the finer historic houses in England, there is a Castle Howard website castlehoward.co.uk .
Circa: 1863
Condition: used
Color: cream