Featured Antique Lace Hankerchiefs

Hi
Just found a big styrofoam box stuffed in a corner of a closet.....dug my way through and oh my.......one of the boxes inside has 11 unwashed but mostly UNstained antique hankerchiefs, and the other box has 14 very similar!!!! All are of varying sizes......I WILL GET PICTURES UP but after dinner.....have to get hubby out the door soon!!!! I also found 11 separate antique napkins I think are in great condition, and another bag (plastic) has an antique double damask 9' tablecloth with 12 matching napkins.....all beautifully fringed! Does ANY of this interest anyone!!!!! But before that, I will need to get the pictures up, and get some help on research!!!!! Thanks for your input!!!

Edit: This is all from my Mother's collection of antiques and what she "saved"
on Block Island.....I was looking for a 'stash' of old receipts....of which there weren't many, sadly.....it's left me pretty 'hi and dry' in still trying to figure out the few things I still come across!!! I don't believe I have any relatives with a 9' table!!!!

Have to edit again.....when I unfolded each handkerchief to photo, I saw that most of them DO HAVE age staining on them......I don't know if it's permanent or not, but what a disappointment to me!! Even the never used tablecloth set has it!!!! Are there pros that can save these things??? I haven't had chance to add the sizes yet on the hankies, but if anyone wants to know, ask me........and my count was off....one box had 6 and the other has 11 or 13.....I'm addled at this point.......

And there are 3 hankies with some damage.......I know everything is not yet posted, and all of the stains aren't showing in the pictures.........more coming tomorrow.......I used up my space....HA HA!!!!!

 

If the antiques guys don't want them, textile crafters will be all over a box like that!

 

If there are any historical Block Island items, I know the museum would be interested. We were there last summer and visited. It turns out hubby and I have ancestors ten generations back among the original settlers. Go figure.

 

You have a 9 foot table cloth?????? I have an 8 foot table! It has always been difficult to get cloths for it - no trouble for a bit shorter or or for a 12 footer, but an 8/9 foot is my nemesis..........

 

Bev, I have to say that their museum has gotten much better over the years, but also over the years I had watched how some things there had deteriorated.......not 100% their fault when you live on a damp windy Island in a drafty 1800's building for a museum......MANY improvements have since been made, over the years, much to its credit.....decades ago my Mom became a lifetime member and was getting very involved with the historical society......was even invited to become a curator.......until one of the "old timers" also running it NOT SO politely uninvited her from that offer!!!!!! Ya kinda had to be 'born and bred there to be one of them!!!! So, even though I personally really LIKE the present curator, and have donated a few things here and there, I do know how things are run on that tight little Island.......and the Island will always have a piece of my heart, but feel no particular compunction to donate much more in that direction!!!!

BTW......I DO THINK that's amazing that you go back among the original settlers!!!!! Did you 'cruise the cemetery???????????

 

Hi Mansons,
That's what the card says that my Mom wrote when she put it in the bag......when I take it out....I'll measure for sure, so we'll ALL know!!!!!

 

Hi,
I have had wonderful results on cleaning up this type of linens. Hand wash and soak for a while in a mild soap mixture Rinse a lot of times, then blot any remaining
stains in lemon juice and sprinkle salt on top place in sunlight light until dry. A lot of the stains are soap that never rinsed out after washing and oxidized. I always dry mine on the grass in the sun, force of habit.
greg

 

Those are beautiful, Aquitaine!

 

They are so pretty.

 

Lovely! This query of yours, Aquit..., is of special interest to me for I have a highboy full of my mother's tablecloths and napkins, lacy handkerchiefs, dollies, etc... My mother's died in 2003 at the age of 91. Many of the pieces were from both my grandmothers. I haven't tried sorting it all out. Greg's reply was of special interest for know some have "age staining." Also am interested in seeing ideas of those interested in such finds.

--- Susan

 

Interesting, thanks for sharing, Greg.

Hmmmmm... the birds around here would use those hankies for target practice.

--- Susan

 

I'm going to try Greg's stain remedy too.

 

Very nice.
Thanks for sharing.

 

THANKS ALL!!!! It was fun re-finding all, and I do love them, but it's time to re-home them!!!!!!!

More coming in my next Thread!!!!

 

@Mansons2005 I don't know if you saw my follow up thread with the post directed at you just for an FYI.....the tablecloth is NOT 9', but rather a more realistic +/- 89 1/2" Long, incl fringe; +/- 68 1/2" Wide, incl fringe; and the matching dozen 15" x 15" napkins incl fringe. JUST a general FYI, that's all!!

 

TO ALL: ONE QUESTION ABOUT CLEANING??

I did some searching online and came up with a wealth of information on how to try to brighten and eliminate the age discoloration and staining on the handkerchiefs........have ANY of you used the product "Restoration" as opposed to "OxiClean"??? Amazon sells the Restoration for about $28. for a lb., and I was wondering if any of you had used that in particular?? Thanks for any help....... AGAIN !!!!!!!

 

AAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

 

I wish we still had a vintage clothing board on Ebay; the Vinties knew stuff like this.

 

I have never tried "Restoration", but I use a boiling water method for cleaning (some) old linens. I usually mix Oxyclean & baking soda washing powder. I don't recommend the boiling method on colored linens, and only use it on sturdy linens like cotton & linen. You can google the boiling water method for old linens, if you want to read more about it.

Some of your hankies look machine made, some of them may be hand made lace, but I would need more time to take a good look at them. I noticed your other thread yesterday, and wanted to comment on some of those hankies too. I will go find the other thread....

 

This looks similar to one of your laces above.http://www.legacyinlace.com/lace/handmade-brussels-tape-lace-hankie-point-to-point-16-101