Featured Mystery Linens

Help! At auction, I bought a large lot of what I thought were heavy linen tablecloths. Some of them were, but others seem to be more like sheets. They have a deeper hem at only one end with some embroidery, but the sizes don't match up with any sheets I know of. After washing, each one measures approximately 90" long and 88" across. So -- too short for regular beds, but too wide to be twins. They're old, but I really don't understand them. Am I barking up the wrong tree? Maybe they're not sheets at all?

Along with these mystery "sheets" there are four pieces of linens that measure 24" across by 45" long. They also have embroidery at only one end. What the heck are they for?

I haven't added any photos because all there is to see are pieces of linen fabric. The fabric itself is wonderful, but I'd really like to know what they are.

 

Please post photos. The style of the embroidery, and any other stitching that is visible, can provide us with clues.

 

I'll download some shortly.

 

Another thought before seeing them - they might be curtains.

 

Two pictures: the first one is the top edge of one of the sheets; the second is of the top of the strange 24"x45" piece. They are nice heavy linen and washed beautifully.

 

That is exactly what we want to see.
My guess is 1920s-30s bedlinen, but let's wait for the others.

 

As I'm not familiar with the techniques employed, this will perhaps be a superfluous comment...but both of the upper hems shown seem to be a combination of doubling of the fabric with the attached edge not simply stitched down but somehow worked into the latticed narrow openwork at that edge. My guess is that the flip side would appear almost identical to what can be seen on this side.
If I'm correct, I wonder what that type of seam is properly called? It is surely a time-consuming, eye-straining an' labor-intensive process...but the intentionally decorative work beneath those seams steals the show unless you focus closely on that sweet seam work. Thanks!

 

The technique at the top of the pieces is called hemstitching, I think. It is identical on both sides.

Any further thoughts on what they are?

 

Look up "antique bed covers." Might be under the term "madeira". Some are more elaborate. Like this:

 

I agree with bed linens.
Some old beds were different sizes to what we have today... which makes it hard to use the lovely old linens. One of the most common bed sizes was what we now call a 3/4 bed. It was approximately 48"x75".

 

Be patient. I believe there are several members knowledgeable about linens, and they may show up.

 

I too think they are bed linens. As Bluumz has said bed sizes were different to today's standard sizes. They are beautifully embroidered - looks like ladder work below the hem which would have been a lot of work & very time consuming. The long thinner pieces could be side panels - I have some which I use on a modern double bed. I put one long panel on each side and one shorter one at the foot of the bed, tucking them under the mattress so they just touch the carpet. It's a spare bed so is not made up at the moment but gives an idea of how the panels would be used. Please excuse the less than great photos - the light indoors is not great here due to leaden skies & torrential rain!

 

I had a thought about the small pieces as well (the ones that measure 25"x45" with the embroidery on one of the short sides. Maybe they are what was called "false bedding" - the pillow was wrapped with a piece, the embroidery on the front, to give the appearance of a set of bed linens but having them easy to whip off at night.

 

That's IT! Ladder work...Thank you, Lucy!

 

Hi @Linnie and all,
As usual... I'm late to the party!

All your examples have "hemstitching" - a little needle edging that separates the hem from the body of the work.

I am not certain without seeing the opposite sides; but, photo #1 looks like it is the back side of "shadow" embroidery, with embroidered 5 petal flowers and leaves. The open area is "drawn" work; where as, they certain bunch vertical threads, and bunch horizontal threads, and work a new thread around the bunches to keep them "open" (a squarish looking coarse net).

The second photo also looks like "shadow" embroider, except that it looks like they did the "shadow work" from the top side, but the heavy outline embroidery around the open areas are on this side. Leading me to think that they did the shadow work AND the embroidery on the proper side on the first piece. And for some reason, did the shadow work on the top in the second piece.

Both photo #1 and 2, the pieces appear to be hand worked.

My guess is to the use of this second piece being 24" x 45" was that it was a bed pillow cover. They didn't like to have their "slept upon, wrinkled pillowcases show and didn't want to launder daily. So a "pillow cover" like this may have been, was removed before retiring, carefully laid aside, and then reapplied over the wrinkled pillow when the bed was remade in the morning.

The third photo, looks to me like embroidery with "eyelets". Basically "whitework"... white embroidery with eyelets. Although this photo doesn't show any needle lace fillings, it is probably close to Ayrshire whitework. It is probably handworked also.

• Ayrshire
  A 19th century Scottish technique that uses satin stitch, eyelets, and needle lace fillings. It's traditionally used on christening gowns and handkerchiefs.

Your 4th piece: I can't see it clearly and up close enough to be certain; but my guess is that it is a machine made lace insertion. Bedskirt looks like a fine guess and it has a Scandinavian feel to me.

Cool pieces, thanks for sharing!
Cheerio,
Leslie