Complete set of 24 linen damask serviettes with embroidered initial C and crowns from a noble household
An exceptional find, a late 19th or early 20th century complete dinner service set of serviettes which once belonged to a noble household. Each one bears the hand-embroidered initial ‘C’ and a crown, which was a protected symbol and indicates that this set belonged to a noble household. These were for formal dinners when important guests were invited - the damask design is sober and features a band of flowers running round the edges with a field of stylised simple flowers. All of the hems are handstitched. These are very large, indicating both their age and provenance.
It’s quite amazing to find a whole set of 24 of these serviettes, but they have evidently been washed sometimes separately, some are cream and some are more bone white. Some of them have been lightly used - there is not a single physical damage or wear amongst the whole set but four or five of them have very pale yellowish marks. I’ve tried to photograph these but they wouldn’t show up- all except for the most pronounced, which is on one side of one serviette. Just be aware they are there. They have been soaked and washed and dried in the sun and I feel that if they continue to be dried in the sun these marks will fade even more. But the majority of them are in excellent condition. They measure an exceptionally large 76×90cm.
I don’t want to split this set up because they have survived 100+ years together as a complete set, which is so rare. But I realise this makes them expensive - if you are interested in 12, let me know and I will make a note of it in case they don’t sell as a set and I decide to split them up…I can’t guarantee that even if they don’t sell I can bring myself to separate them because I’m a bit of a textile weirdo!
Please click on the photos to open them up full-sized.
To purchase, please contact me.
An exceptional find, a late 19th or early 20th century complete dinner service set of serviettes which once belonged to a noble household. Each one bears the hand-embroidered initial ‘C’ and a crown, which was a protected symbol and indicates that this set belonged to a noble household. These were for formal dinners when important guests were invited - the damask design is sober and features a band of flowers running round the edges with a field of stylised simple flowers. All of the hems are handstitched. These are very large, indicating both their age and provenance.
It’s quite amazing to find a whole set of 24 of these serviettes, but they have evidently been washed sometimes separately, some are cream and some are more bone white. Some of them have been lightly used - there is not a single physical damage or wear amongst the whole set but four or five of them have very pale yellowish marks. I’ve tried to photograph these but they wouldn’t show up- all except for the most pronounced, which is on one side of one serviette. Just be aware they are there. They have been soaked and washed and dried in the sun and I feel that if they continue to be dried in the sun these marks will fade even more. But the majority of them are in excellent condition. They measure an exceptionally large 76×90cm.
I don’t want to split this set up because they have survived 100+ years together as a complete set, which is so rare. But I realise this makes them expensive - if you are interested in 12, let me know and I will make a note of it in case they don’t sell as a set and I decide to split them up…I can’t guarantee that even if they don’t sell I can bring myself to separate them because I’m a bit of a textile weirdo!
Please click on the photos to open them up full-sized.
To purchase, please contact me.
An exceptional find, a late 19th or early 20th century complete dinner service set of serviettes which once belonged to a noble household. Each one bears the hand-embroidered initial ‘C’ and a crown, which was a protected symbol and indicates that this set belonged to a noble household. These were for formal dinners when important guests were invited - the damask design is sober and features a band of flowers running round the edges with a field of stylised simple flowers. All of the hems are handstitched. These are very large, indicating both their age and provenance.
It’s quite amazing to find a whole set of 24 of these serviettes, but they have evidently been washed sometimes separately, some are cream and some are more bone white. Some of them have been lightly used - there is not a single physical damage or wear amongst the whole set but four or five of them have very pale yellowish marks. I’ve tried to photograph these but they wouldn’t show up- all except for the most pronounced, which is on one side of one serviette. Just be aware they are there. They have been soaked and washed and dried in the sun and I feel that if they continue to be dried in the sun these marks will fade even more. But the majority of them are in excellent condition. They measure an exceptionally large 76×90cm.
I don’t want to split this set up because they have survived 100+ years together as a complete set, which is so rare. But I realise this makes them expensive - if you are interested in 12, let me know and I will make a note of it in case they don’t sell as a set and I decide to split them up…I can’t guarantee that even if they don’t sell I can bring myself to separate them because I’m a bit of a textile weirdo!
Please click on the photos to open them up full-sized.
To purchase, please contact me.