Length of unused vintage serviette linen

This is from somewhere between 1930-1950 - an era when things were still regularly handmade in many French households, both upper-class and less well-off. It is serviette linen, a damask made from a good quality linen and cotton metis - the contrasting fibres adding to the contrasts in the pattern. There are two pieces here - the large piece has not been washed and still has its sizing in - someone has started to work with the smaller piece and has washed it, although a good French seamstress would have hemmed these serviettes before washing as the sizing in the fabric helps to keep it square and makes turning delicate hems a lot easier.

At regular intervals along the fabric, the serviette border is marked by dropping out some of the weft threads, creating a visible and precise cutting line. In total with both pieces of textile, there is eleven serviettes-worth (the twelth seems to have been lost to time) - nine in the unwashed length which measures 67x595cm and two in the smaller piece which measures 67x129cm.

Both pieces are in excellent condition - the larger piece does have a little storage mark line and a small stain but I am certain these will come out with soaking and washing - as mentioned above I don’t want to wash this piece in case the end owner wants to hem it first.

Please click on the photos to open them up full-sized.

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