Handwoven indigo-striped tablecloth with five mismatched serviettes
This is an extraordinary set, and the first time I have found something like this. The seller told me that this came from a religious institute at the foot of the Pyrenees. This tracks exactly with the style of weaving, the fineness and precision of that weaving, and the use of indigo dyestuff. These would have been woven by nuns, and the style of weaving is very much like the weaving in vintage teatowels that is often called ‘Basque’ weaving - ie. from the border of France and Spain. Historically, this region was also one of the great centres of the production and use of woad, and then later on, of imported Indian indigo.
All of these pieces are handwoven from linen thread. The large tablecloth is made from two panels of handwoven fabric with a diamond-weave stitched together, the serviettes (they are not teatowels) are a single panel. All of them have blue stripes at either end, and the vibrance of the blue coupled with the way it has worn over the years makes me absolutely positive that this is real indigo. The fact that these pieces came from a religious institute further strengthens their handwoven-ness and the use of indigo dye, as religious institutes used only the best materials and the nuns had the time, the patience, and the devotion to commit to pieces like this.
There are five serviettes. There is a pair with blue-stitched initials ‘AE’ and then three singles, one with the single initial ‘B’, one with the initial ‘H’, and one with red initials ‘XS’. I am keeping them all together even though they are not exactly matching because I feel they have travelled this long in each other’s company and they deserve to remain together.
These pieces are in very good condition. The tablecloth has a small wear and one small stain, which I have pictured. There are a couple of tiny marks on the serviettes, the serviette initialed ‘XS’ also has a tiny wear, and serviette ‘B’ has a small delicate visible repair. The dimensions are as follows:
Tablecloth: 149×242cm
‘AE’ serviettes: 74×101cm
‘H’ serviette: 71×88cm
‘B’ serviette: 72×100cm
‘XS’ serviette: 79×91cm
Please click on the photos to open them up full-sized.
To purchase, please contact me.
This is an extraordinary set, and the first time I have found something like this. The seller told me that this came from a religious institute at the foot of the Pyrenees. This tracks exactly with the style of weaving, the fineness and precision of that weaving, and the use of indigo dyestuff. These would have been woven by nuns, and the style of weaving is very much like the weaving in vintage teatowels that is often called ‘Basque’ weaving - ie. from the border of France and Spain. Historically, this region was also one of the great centres of the production and use of woad, and then later on, of imported Indian indigo.
All of these pieces are handwoven from linen thread. The large tablecloth is made from two panels of handwoven fabric with a diamond-weave stitched together, the serviettes (they are not teatowels) are a single panel. All of them have blue stripes at either end, and the vibrance of the blue coupled with the way it has worn over the years makes me absolutely positive that this is real indigo. The fact that these pieces came from a religious institute further strengthens their handwoven-ness and the use of indigo dye, as religious institutes used only the best materials and the nuns had the time, the patience, and the devotion to commit to pieces like this.
There are five serviettes. There is a pair with blue-stitched initials ‘AE’ and then three singles, one with the single initial ‘B’, one with the initial ‘H’, and one with red initials ‘XS’. I am keeping them all together even though they are not exactly matching because I feel they have travelled this long in each other’s company and they deserve to remain together.
These pieces are in very good condition. The tablecloth has a small wear and one small stain, which I have pictured. There are a couple of tiny marks on the serviettes, the serviette initialed ‘XS’ also has a tiny wear, and serviette ‘B’ has a small delicate visible repair. The dimensions are as follows:
Tablecloth: 149×242cm
‘AE’ serviettes: 74×101cm
‘H’ serviette: 71×88cm
‘B’ serviette: 72×100cm
‘XS’ serviette: 79×91cm
Please click on the photos to open them up full-sized.
To purchase, please contact me.
This is an extraordinary set, and the first time I have found something like this. The seller told me that this came from a religious institute at the foot of the Pyrenees. This tracks exactly with the style of weaving, the fineness and precision of that weaving, and the use of indigo dyestuff. These would have been woven by nuns, and the style of weaving is very much like the weaving in vintage teatowels that is often called ‘Basque’ weaving - ie. from the border of France and Spain. Historically, this region was also one of the great centres of the production and use of woad, and then later on, of imported Indian indigo.
All of these pieces are handwoven from linen thread. The large tablecloth is made from two panels of handwoven fabric with a diamond-weave stitched together, the serviettes (they are not teatowels) are a single panel. All of them have blue stripes at either end, and the vibrance of the blue coupled with the way it has worn over the years makes me absolutely positive that this is real indigo. The fact that these pieces came from a religious institute further strengthens their handwoven-ness and the use of indigo dye, as religious institutes used only the best materials and the nuns had the time, the patience, and the devotion to commit to pieces like this.
There are five serviettes. There is a pair with blue-stitched initials ‘AE’ and then three singles, one with the single initial ‘B’, one with the initial ‘H’, and one with red initials ‘XS’. I am keeping them all together even though they are not exactly matching because I feel they have travelled this long in each other’s company and they deserve to remain together.
These pieces are in very good condition. The tablecloth has a small wear and one small stain, which I have pictured. There are a couple of tiny marks on the serviettes, the serviette initialed ‘XS’ also has a tiny wear, and serviette ‘B’ has a small delicate visible repair. The dimensions are as follows:
Tablecloth: 149×242cm
‘AE’ serviettes: 74×101cm
‘H’ serviette: 71×88cm
‘B’ serviette: 72×100cm
‘XS’ serviette: 79×91cm
Please click on the photos to open them up full-sized.
To purchase, please contact me.