A brief overview of linen through the ages

Egyptians deemed linen to be the cloth of the gods.  They used it for example for mummies, and in their sacred rituals.  Linen is the oldest textile in the world, and remnants have been found in many different countries spanning centuries and cultures. 

In Europe, in the 9th century, Emperor Charlemagne concurred with the Egyptian view, and decreed that every Belgian household should grow flax (the plant used to make linen).  And so for centuries the people of Belgium, France, Germany and the Low Countries have spun straw into gold.  In a time-proven technique, that has not changed much today, which accounts for the cost of producing linen.

Traditionally linen was more abundant in Europe than cotton, and hence used by the gentry as well as peasants and people of lesser means.  Bedding, nightclothing and household textiles were made of linen, be it simple and homespun utilitiarian pieces,  or the fancy finer lawns, embroidered and adorned with exotic monograms and designs.  Every lady would bring into marriage her trousseau, consisting of dozens of sets of towels, bedding, shams, sheets, nightclothing, underwear and even baby items, painstakingly monogrammed and embroidered.

Girls were taught to sew at an early age, and the art of embroidery, monogramming and various techniques to enhance textiles, such as drawnwork, scallops and more, were deemed an essential part of a girl's education.  Wealthier families also hired seamstresses and even nuns in convents to produce exquisite richly embroidered linens for heir homes, castles and clothing.

The biggest appeal of linen

It breathes.  It's light but also absorbent, and insulating.  It is incredibly strong.  Think of the mummies and how well their wrappings have survived centuries and centuries.  What makes linen so strong is the parallel arrangement of the fibers.  However, the production process is time-consuming and arduous, which is why linen is so costly.  That makes vintage pieces all the more appealing since they are often quite affordable.

Linen does need to be ironed to be soft, and it also needs to be washed, especially the old coarse pieces which will only soften after years of laundering.  Europeans often boiled their linens, imagine big cauldrons over fire, and huge wood spoons to boil bedding (and kill fleas, dust mites, lice and other critters that abounded in those days where hygiene was not quite the same as it is now).

Enjoy vintage linens today

In your home, use it for bedding, table linens, toweling, upholstery, window treatments and more.  Even damaged pieces can be recycled into pillows and other decorative items.  Vintage clothing can also take on a new life when adapted to current styles.  No matter what you do with it, know that a vintage piece of linen will have a history and a past, that will add immensely to the charm and enjoyment of the pieces you find.

Old linen pieces can also be recycled into clothing, cool, comfortable and supple. Caring for linen is one of the main reason a lot of European households have moved towards the fibers that require less work and less hands-on care.  But nothing can duplicate or replace the feel of 100% pure fine linen, winter or summer.

Obviously eBay is a perfect place to find these linens, and there is a great selection at a wide variety of prices, and so many different ways to use your finds. 

Visit our store to find a lot of European heirlooms, linen and more:

Touch of Europe