Linens Collection

Page of Victorian adverts - 1890
Various adverts for The Graphic, May 1890. May 1890

Scene from Sleeping Beauty (chromolitho)
8677393 Scene from Sleeping Beauty (chromolitho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Scene from Sleeping Beauty: the princess wishing to try using a spindle)

A boy cutting flax stalks, 1850
3478722 A boy cutting flax stalks, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting a boy cutting flax stalks into length for heckling during the production of linen)

Q for quenouille (spinner) (chromolitho)
8677331 Q for quenouille (spinner) (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Q for quenouille (spinner). Woman or girl with a distaff used in spinning

Wallflowers, Quechua, distaff and quay (chromolitho)
8677353 Wallflowers, Quechua, distaff and quay (chromolitho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Q for quarantaine (wallflowers), Quechua, quenouille (distaff) and quay

Nude with white Sheet, 1937 (oil on canvas)
7332550 Nude with white Sheet, 1937 (oil on canvas) by Brusselmans, Jean (1884-1953); Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Ghent, Belgium; (add.info.: Jean Brusselmans (1884-1953)

Workers using a hemp and flax scutching machine, 19th century, 1864
7125179 Workers using a hemp and flax scutching machine, 19th century, 1864; (add.info.: Workers using a hemp and flax scutching machine)

Workers shredding flax using a hackle or heckle, 19th century, 1864
7125178 Workers shredding flax using a hackle or heckle, 19th century, 1864; (add.info.: Workers shredding flax, 19th century)

Pulling and binding flax, Antrim (b/w photo)
8652391 Pulling and binding flax, Antrim (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Pulling and binding flax, Antrim)

The Saxons (colour litho)
8673461 The Saxons (colour litho) by Hassall, John (1868-1948) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Saxons. Illustration for My very first little History Book)

Botany, vegetables from the vegetable garden: celery, carrot, wheat, corn, potato, hemp and flax
FGL5499412 Botany, vegetables from the vegetable garden: celery, carrot, wheat, corn, potato, hemp and flax. Board from "The Illustrated World" 1900; Fototeca Gilardi.

Scutching flax
3478865 Scutching flax; (add.info.: Scutching flax. Engraving after Daniel Nicolas Chodowiecki (1726-1801). Scutching is a step in the processing of cotton or the dressing of flax in preparation for

Advertisement for Irish household linens
2602684 Advertisement for Irish household linens; (add.info.: Advertisement for Irish household linens published London, December, 1895.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Advert for Peri-Lusta cotton and embroidery threads, featuring illustration of languishing lady looking at embroidered household linens. Date: 1920s

H. E. Wheeler Decorations
An illustration showing an array of printed linens and furniture at 55, Victoria Street, Westminster. Date: circa 1915

Heal's Shop Advertisement
An illustrated advertisement for Heal's Shop in London, promoting hand printed linens, chintzes and cretonnes. The image shows a lady, admiring her patterned curtains

Corset, 1740-60 (woollen damask & linen)
7316835 Corset, 1740-60 (woollen damask & linen) by European School, (18th century); Manchester Art Gallery, UK; © Manchester Art Gallery

Corset, 1740-60 (woollen damask & linen)
7316832 Corset, 1740-60 (woollen damask & linen) by European School, (18th century); Manchester Art Gallery, UK; © Manchester Art Gallery

Collar, 1610-40 (lace)
7349161 Collar, 1610-40 (lace) by English School, (17th century); 36.5x37 cm; Manchester Art Gallery, UK; (add.info.: Back and side pieces of linen seamed together forming square neck;)

Corset, 1740-60 (woollen damask & linen)
7316828 Corset, 1740-60 (woollen damask & linen) by European School, (18th century); Manchester Art Gallery, UK; © Manchester Art Gallery

Dress, c. 1760 (silk, linen & cotton)
7336620 Dress, c.1760 (silk, linen & cotton) by English School, (18th century); Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA

Round gown, c. 1795 (silk & linen)
7336598 Round gown, c.1795 (silk & linen) by Italian School, (18th century); Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA

George Barbier illustration
7286229 George Barbier illustration. by Barbier, Georges (1882-1932); Private Collection; (add.info.: Costume de Yacht : veste de drap, jupe de toile, chapeau de cuir - Yacht costume: cloth jacket)

Thomas Morgan, woollen and linen draper, grocer and tea dealer, trade card (engraving)
731565 Thomas Morgan, woollen and linen draper, grocer and tea dealer, trade card (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Thomas Morgan)

Trade card, Burch (engraving)
733938 Trade card, Burch (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Trade card, Burch, importer of Irish linens, 35 Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury)

Trade card, John Keet (engraving)
732143 Trade card, John Keet (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Trade card, John Keet, wholesale and retail linen and woollen draper, No)

River near San Benedetto, Madagascar, plate 81 from Le Costume Ancien et Moderne
STC222072 River near San Benedetto, Madagascar, plate 81 from Le Costume Ancien et Moderne by Jules Ferrario, published c.1820s-30s (colour litho) by Gallina

Young woman taking linens from a shelf, c. 1850-52 (conte crayon on panel
1066032 Young woman taking linens from a shelf, c.1850-52 (conte crayon on panel) (verso of 1066031) by Millet, Jean-Francois (1814-75)

Grand Panorama of the Great Exhibition, South-East Portion of the Nave (engraving)
1102546 Grand Panorama of the Great Exhibition, South-East Portion of the Nave (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Grand Panorama of the Great Exhibition)

Trade card, R Hoskin (engraving)
732130 Trade card, R Hoskin (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Trade card, R Hoskin, linen draper, hosier and haberdasher, Duke Street, Reading)

Trades in Regency England: Grinding cutlery, iron works and flax spinning
6340305 Trades in Regency England: Grinding cutlery, iron works and flax spinning by Taylor, Isaac (1730-1807); (add.info.: Trades in Regency England: Grinding cutlery, iron works and flax spinning)

Laundry Day, West Somerset (w / c on paper)
2956881 Laundry Day, West Somerset (w/c on paper) by North, John William (1842-1924); 63.5x88.9 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

The Laundry Maid, 1915 (w / c on paper)
3247616 The Laundry Maid, 1915 (w/c on paper) by Margetson, William Henry (1861-1940); 66x48.3 cm; Private Collection; English, out of copyright

Elegant Lady Holding fan (chromolitho)
733223 Elegant Lady Holding fan (chromolitho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Elegant Lady Holding Fan.); Look and Learn / Barbara Loe Collection

Robert Waithman (1764 - 1833), draper and British politician, employed for some time in a London linen draper s, he opened, about 1786, a drapers shop of his own in Ludgate Circus, London

Man wearing white clothes walking in the dunes on the beach

The Womens Institute, Truro, Cornwall. 1919
A group of the members pose for the photographer at the Womens Institute two day bazaar in St Marys Street building held on the 5th and 6th of December 1919

Folded napkins Li tre trattati messer Mattia
Folded napkins, Li tre trattati di messer Mattia Giegher, bavaro di Mosbvrc, trinciante dell ill.ma natione alemanna in Padova, Giegher, Mattia, Engraving, 1639

Heart shaped lavender bags to scent linen credit: Marie-Louise Avery / thePictureKitchen / TopFoto

Young fashionable lady searches for linen in her Dower Chest
A fashionable young lady kneels in front of an Old English oak Dower chest, searching for a specific item of household linen! Date: 1923

Advert for Heals hand-printed linens 1914
Heals hand-printed linens, chintzes and cretonnes Date: 1914

Front cover of The Sphere for Christmas 1915, WW1
Front cover of The Sphere for Christmas 1915, with two Christmas trees, a photo of a soldier in the snow, and advertisements for the Willett Light, Ronuk polishes, Shoolbreds blankets and linens

Man wearing white clothes sitting in the dunes

Homemade flapjack cookie bars arranged on brown plate credit: Marie-Louise Avery / thePictureKitchen / TopFoto

Fresh tomatoes on the vine on laundered tea towel credit: Marie-Louise Avery / thePictureKitchen / TopFoto

Folded linen napkin on pewter plate. credit: Marie-Louise Avery / thePictureKitchen / TopFoto

Old fashioned posy of full blown roses and gypsophila aganst dark background credit: Marie-Louise Avery / thePictureKitchen / TopFoto

Poster: How to make your household linens last longer

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

Step back in time with these Victorian linens, as we explore the world of elegance and sophistication. Delve into a page of 1890 adverts, where Peri-Lusta cotton and embroidery threads take center stage. A languishing lady gazes longingly at exquisitely embroidered household linens, transporting us to the opulence of the 1920s. H. E. Wheeler Decorations beckon us further into this enchanting era, offering a glimpse into their luxurious linens collection. Heal's Shop Advertisement entices with promises of quality and style that only linen can deliver. Travel even further back in time to the 18th century, where woollen damask and linen corsets were all the rage. These garments shaped silhouettes while providing comfort through their fine craftsmanship. But it's not just undergarments that showcase linen's versatility; collars adorned with delicate lace from 1610-40 speak volumes about its timeless appeal. As we continue our journey through history, a silk, linen & cotton dress from c. 1760 catches our eye—a testament to how different fabrics harmoniously blend together to create fashion masterpieces. A round gown made from silk & linen circa 1795 transports us to an era when women embraced simplicity without compromising on elegance—a true reflection of their refined taste. Trades in Regency Ireland come alive as bleaching techniques are perfected alongside Irish cabins and salmon leaps—linen playing an integral role in everyday life for both practicality and beauty. Finally, George Barbier's captivating illustration captures the essence of linens' allure—an embodiment of gracefulness that transcends time itself. Join us on this nostalgic journey through centuries past as we celebrate the enduring charm and significance of linens—the fabric that has woven its way into history books while adorning homes with elegance for generations.