Wanderlust & Pixie Dust

Victorian/Edwardian Chenille

I saw my very first Victorian chenille throw used as a prop in an old photograph, possibly a carte de visite, circa 1870's-1880's.  My mother taught me the joys of getting comfy with a small pile of old photographs and a magnifying glass at your side.  

I remember the very first time I actually saw one of these in person.  It was years ago at what used to be the Santa Monica Antique Market on Lincoln.  I spotted the first "throw" from a distance.  I remember getting all beside myself as I recognized immediately what it was.  

What I didn't get excited about was the $300 price tag.  It turns out the same dealer had a few more of these chenille beauties draped gracefully across the store.  Carefully I examined each of them and vowed that I would own one someday.

 

Since then I have been lucky enough to put together a very small collection.  Each throw/portiere/blanket was luckily snagged on Ebay for a song.  This one is especially magnificent and detailed.

These are the type of antique/vintage textiles that often hold up very well over the years.  I don't think that some people realize how much age is on these beauties.  My husband likes to try and get my goat now and then by exclaiming "That's not old " about various things.  

The colors in this piece remain so vibrant that it's hard to tell the back from the front. 

Be sure to take a good look at these close-ups so that you will ready should you stumble upon one of these yourself.   Remember that they were created in a variety of sizes.  I have one sized perfectly for a small parlor table and still others that are incredibly long in size.  Exceptionally long pieces which are only tasseled on 2 (opposite) ends were created to hang in doorways.   

I'm blanking out at the moment regarding the measurements on this. It's square in shape and certainly would work as a twin size bedspread or topper.  Pretty tassels rim all 4 sides. 

This does have 2 damaged tassels but I don't plan to even attempt to repair them.  They certainly do not detract from the beauty of the piece. 

I used to have one that had an image of a child riding a huge St. Bernard.  I sold that one but now I kick myself for not keeping it.  Oh well,  there is always something new and amazing to discover, right?

Tried to Cut Up This Old Turkey Red Tablecloth

Trying to get myself out of my creative funk, I found myself going through my stash of textile odds and ends. I remember how excited I was when I discovered this beautiful old turkey red tablecloth at a local yard sale. I found it so incredibly ancient and beautiful that I wasn't even disappointed in how tragically worn out it was.
Finally! A piece so damaged that I won't mind salvaging it for parts! Naw. Can't do it.

It is no longer red and it is so very thin and full of holes but I just could not bring myself to do it.

Check out how tragic the fringe is.

But oh how beautiful! Such detail.

It's times like this that I wish I had one of those stucco McMansions with a vaulted ceilings. A house like this would have walls large enough to hang something like this as one would a tapestry. I live in an itty bitty falling down ranch. No room. So carefully I have folded it back up and tucked it away for now.

I then moved on to these little napkins. The first felt too "new" for what I had in mind.

I have two of these below and they're pretty thin and stained up but I couldn't get myself to chop em up either.

Y'know. I thought that I had added a post ( many moons ago) about some of my other turkey red items but I can't find it. I just had another birthday, am I losing it already? I'll look again later and if I still can't find it, I'll take some new pictures to share soon.

Speaking of China...

Don't worry. I'm not going to get all political here. Trust me, I have an opinion alright about the Olympics being in China but I vented that opinion to my poor husband. No, what got me all fired up about China this morning was this Ebay listing.
I was in the middle of debating a bill with a company that I hope I never hear from again. As I was placed on hold numerous times, I was sort of flipping through Ebay while waiting.

I immediately got excited because about ten years ago I purchased this pair in Beijing:

If you were able to click on the Ebay link above, maybe you noticed their resemblance to the the two panels in the Ebay listing. I never knew what my panels were meant for originally, only that I thought that they were beautiful. Maybe now I know.

Well that was all it took to get me going this morning and drop everything I was supposed to be doing. Once I dug my pretty embroidered panels out I had to dig up my precious red shoes:

Egads. I have to pause here for a little while. My Abby is driving me nuts. She has had her breakfast and has been out to potty but now she is spinning around in circles and ramming me in the ankles with her nose. She is demanding to go out and seize the day.

I'll be back later with more photo's to show. I'll also be sharing two of my books, The Last Empress from 1931 and Letters From China circa 1910.

Didn't you just love the music that is playing on that Ebay listing? Hauntingly beautiful. I'm going to email the seller and see if I can find out who it is by.

In the mean time, if you are truly a textile freak like I am, take a look at this other listing by the same seller: Wow. I almost get light headed from gazing at this magnifcent work.

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I'm back.

These dear tiny shoes are so very small that I can only imagine that they were made for display only. I should have taken a picture of them next to my tape measure. They measure just under 3 inches high and about 3 1/2 inches long. While in the shower a few moments ago, I remembered that somewhere around this house I have a 3rd old book that shows the effects on a woman's foot after wearing these types of shoes. Something you don't see every day.

"Within the sight of the allied camp rose the fairylike pavilion of the imperial domain. The call of foreign bugles broke the silence of the empty halls scented with aromatic woods, beautified with pictures, glorified with velvets, with lacquer and with gold. In the Summer Palace were treasures that had been collected by Manchu emperors of seven generations. And no one there to guard them."

"There is still room for a book on the empress who held the fate of China in her hands for half a century." From The Last Empress, 1938. I meant to take more photos of this book but didn't get a chance and only took the last two.

"Letters From China. With Particular Reference To The Empress Dowager And The Women Of China. With Eighty Illustrations From Photographs And A Map." 3rd Edition, 1910. This was one of those books discarded by the library.

A beautiful Princess in all her finery.

Pay special attention to the second paragraph and try to envision. Better yet. Pull up the WOW link up above, in another window. Then read this second paragraph with the music playing.

School children learning algebra.

American ladies spending an afternoon in the court.

What a beautiful, outrageous, fascinating, infuriating, incredible, mind boggling, confusing, sad, intriguing world that we live in.

Antique Textiles*Info Wanted*

I am a big, no wait, make that HUGE fan of antique/vintage textiles and linens. What little I know about my collection is entirely self taught. Beginning today, I am going to slowly begin to add pictures on a regular basis of my collection. If anyone ever reads this who knows anything about one of my pieces, please do tell!!


The first item in the photos is a piece that I believe was meant to be draped over a pillow. Maybe not. Maybe it is just a square tablecloth? What I would really like to know is what is this "style". I'm familiar with the "turkey red" pieces that are similar, having designs that are probably more art nouveau. But more and more frequently I am coming across this particular style, a bit more folksy? A recent magazine had a similar piece with a bird incorporated in its design, framed and hung beside the bed. Where did this style originate? Is it German? Hungarian? I am very curious to know. Oh my goodness! The next piece with the bold red and green stripes...I get all giddy just thinking about it! I actually found a pair of these at an estate sale here in town. I happened to just discover the estate sale by accident late in the day. Figuring that I was safe from temptation and that everything of interest had been picked clean already, I decided to check it out. Just as I thought that I was going to remain a good girl and walk out empty handed, I spotted this pair tossed across a day bed. Being a little familiar with these I immediately recognized the texture of the fabric. My heart started pounding. It couldn't be. They must be on hold. Something must be serously wrong with them. Scared out of my wits, I asked to see them. I was right! They were in such good condition I couldn't believe my eyes. Apparently no one else could either which is why they were still there. As I stood there examining them, I was asked by several different ladies what I planned to do with them. I got the impression that no one knew what they were. These are especially long number one. I think that they were meant for much higher ceilings and doorways than we have today. Also. Number two, If you look closely. You'll notice that the fringe is much heavier on one end. I think this was so that they could draped over a rod and hung gracefully. One lady at the sale thought they were bedspreads. Yet another thought they were huge tablecloths. No one could figure out why they were different at both ends. If anyone out there has one of these, whatever you do, DO NOT GET IT WET!!!! The color in these will run horribly! Trust me, I know the hard way. They sometimes show up on ebay and will be described as "faded" or "sun damaged."
No, somewhere along the way someone tried to wash it. Even so, I think that some people are actually seeking them out this way and redying them. And I have seen them used as bedspreads in magazines as far back as Victoria Magazine about 10 years ago. These can be very plain or extremely elaborate in design. Photo #3 is of one that I actually won on ebay several years ago. It was one of those things that just slipped through the cracks. Somehow I was able to get for close to nothing and miracle upon miracles, no one outbid me. I've never seen another like it and I think that it is fairly unusual. And very heavy I might add.
It has similar tassles to all the others although these almost feel like they are made out of some type of chenille. There is some damage but I don't mind. Someday I do plan to repair it so that the damage won't be as noticeable. Were they made here in the U.S? Are they European? Exact time period? Anybody out there know???? Anyone????