Monograms, More than just Letters at Antique Linens and Lace at Pieces of History

Antique linens and lace items added for May include Handmade lace, French linen sheets, antique hair brushes with sterling silver crown monograms, Asian textiles, Wedding hankies, handmade Figural Cantu lace, Royal Society silk, linen sheet sets, 18th and 19th century lace, small Appenzel lace tablecloths with provenance, Lace hankies, Linen sheets and bed linens, 18th and early 19th century early whitework hankies, Banquet linen tablecloths, round lace tablecloths, Alencon, and point de gaze, hand made linen bedspreads, sheets, pillowcsaes, Linen damask towels with hand embroidered monograms, Madeira handwork, also Brussels lace, Irish lace, linen napkins, tablecloths, linen towels, handmade lace doilies, hand printed Japanese towels c1930s and more! Antique linens are very affordable and make unique and memorable gifts that will be treasured for generations! FREE USPS Priority SHIPPING for US orders over $100. For shipping under $100 its a FLAT RATE OF $3.00 per order using USPS. For our international orders over $100 we will discount SHIPPING cost by $6.00. For order questions CALL or FAX 603-672-5048

Article discussing the fine art of monograms on antique linens, uses in identification and monograms as art forms themselves.

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Click here to enlarge image and see more about item 0003: Monograms, More than just Letters

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0003

Monograms, More than just Letters When I was young, I remember the special spoons my mother had with the fancy scrolled T on the handles , the T stood for Tolford, my great grandmother's last name. I was fascinated by the beautiful swirling design of the letter and the soft worn patina. I imagined all the people who must have used those spoons, their thumbs resting over that letter just so, rubbing the handle and softening the once sharply defined lines. These weren't just any spoons, they belonged to someone, claimed, important, they had an initial after all! This fascination began my interest and love of antiques, especially those with monograms. I learned to appreciate them regardless of what the monogram was, sometimes I couldn't even figure out what the letters were so convoluted were the scrolling designs. They were conversation pieces as friends and family members tried to figure out the letters, sometimes amusing each other with stories about what might have taken place around those items. It made them even more interesting and fun. It eventually became a challenge to educate myself on learning to read the many types of letters used in monograms. I spent time in libraries looking up the books that would not only help me identify the items themselves but the letters on them as well.
I became interested more specifically in monograms on linens in high school when I went to a high tea with a friend of mine who's mother was from England, the table was laid with her best silver, linen tablecloth and these small beautifully embroidered tea towels and napkins all monogrammed with initials. I had learned to embroider from my grandmother and thought I was pretty good with a needle until I saw these linens, they were gorgeous! The ends of the towels, as well as the edges of the napkins had the finest handwork I had ever seen! I couldn't believe it was possible to make stitches that perfect or fine, but there they were in front of me.
Things came full circle when some years later I began collecting and then selling antique linens. I started as most people do by just looking for monograms pertaining to the family name, my name or my husbands. After a short time I realized how limiting this was, so many fantastic linens had letters that had nothing to do with our name...I was missing out! I quickly embraced the notion that monograms were works of art in and of themselves regardless of who's initials were on them. This revelation opened up a whole new universe of possibilities. Who cares if its not my initial? Each letter has its own unique form and beauty, each one hand embroidered by someone different bringing their own individuality to the piece, a little mini masterpiece in and fabric and thread. To make things more interesting, fine hand monogramming is a dying art, few people have the skill or patience to do it let alone the time! Now is a good time to invest in some of these beautiful linens, while there is still a good supply of them around to enjoy and treasure!
You might ask why do some monograms have one letter, while some have more? To be specific, mon meaning of man and gram or gramma meaning letter or record. Webster's dictionary states monogram as meaning "a sign of identity usually formed of the combined initials of a name." The choice of the artist of whether to use one or more letters then became personal preference. Some wanted just one family initial while others favored 2, 3 or even 4 or more letters. One letter usually denoted the family name, 2 letters could either denote the first and last initials of the man, or on rare occasion, the woman's family name and the mans. Three initials usually denote the family initial in the center large letter with the first name initial as a small letter and the middle initial last. The use of 4 letters typically involves both the man and the woman's initials, the woman's maiden name initial and the mans family name are usually the 2 larger center letters. This is just an example of the most typical ways the letters were arranged, since individual preferences varied, so did the initial arrangements.
Monograms can also give clues as to the origin of the linens. A family crest, coat of arms or symbol above the monogram speaks volumes about the piece. Typically these were used by people of wealth and or title, a crown above the monogram was only allowed to be used by those of the nobility. So, a crown, with a monogram under it and a good idea of the age of the piece and the possible country it came from could probably pin the original owner down, especially if there was a date under it (linens rarely have dates but when they do it greatly increases their value)! Some of the more stylized letters can sometimes help place the age of the piece, if the style looks to be Art Deco, it probably is, the same applies for Art Nouveaux and Arts and Crafts.
Monograms also served another purpose. Early linens were expensive (think of the time it took to make them), they were listed as part of the estate, even in small homes the linens were listed as part of the property and often were listed in the will. The monograms and numbers often found under them made it easier to keep track of the them, especially if the linens were washed at a communal washing area or if they went to a local washer-woman in the town or village. Show linens boasted the family monogram front and center, especially on towels, sheets and bedspreads. Monograms done for identification purposes were usually placed on the top corner or more rarely, on the bottom corner.
Monograms are much more than a pretty letter or letters on linen, they are little pieces of history that have a story all their own to tell if you are just willing to pick them up and pay attention to what they have to say!

Condition: Used

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