Interesting Antique Textiles

New Website French Florals & Toiles

2011-12-29T12:28:00.001-08:00

Here are the first of the new textiles to be listed for sale on my website, some small but exquisite pieces of mostly 19th century French printed cottons. Happy New Year!

Morgaine Le Fay Antique Textiles

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

Hark the Herald Angels sing!

2011-12-16T02:40:00.000-08:00

Wishing you all health & happiness over the holiday and the coming year.

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

(New stock coming soon)

On the first day of Christmas!

2011-12-13T01:09:00.000-08:00

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me,

A partridge in a pear tree!

Infant of Prague Miniature Cope Made From 18th Century Dress Silk

2011-12-05T05:04:00.000-08:00

Late 19th century Chinese sleevebands

2011-11-20T04:29:00.000-08:00

19th Century French Silk Passementerie

2011-11-06T06:55:00.000-08:00

"Right after the French Revolution in 1789 the passementerie industry suffered as did all industries that produced luxury articles. However, the production of the beautiful passementerie returned with the Empire, and Napoleon I commissioned regal passementerie to decorate the royal palaces. In the Spanish campaign of 1808, elaborate passementerie adorned Napoleon's tent. "

"The French word Passementerie means ornamental trimming and evokes the idea of luxury, opulence and sophistication in decoration. Trim, which is the English translation of the word, lacks the romantic and artistic connotations of the word."
Both quotes from Antique French Textiles for Designers by June K Laval.

I am only just discovering 'the joy of passementerie', and occasionally come across it in the form of simple silk gimps,braid and fringes, sometimes I may find something a little more fancy, but at the antiques fair last week I came across a length of this wonderful fancy trimmong in pretty good overall condition. It measures just under 4" or 10cms long including the woven braid.

This length of silk-covered passementerie is probably the best I have discovered, very ornate, in what looks to be a Louis Phillipe style (produced around c1830) - see photos taken also from the above book - but I have a feeling from the construction and overall look that this example is most likely from the later 19th century or early 20th century the style of Louis Phillipe.

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

Have a Horribly Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T04:48:00.000-07:00

Here are a few suitably scary, sepia enhanced images from 18th, 19th & early 20th century French printed toiles... Have a horrific Halloween folks!

67 unused miniature French 19thc purse frames

2011-10-23T02:49:00.000-07:00

I particularly like this batch of 67 unused late 19th century miniature metal purse frames that I found yesterday as the 3 different designs here are good examples of the 3 main decorative trends of the late 19th and early 20th century: The celtic design is a lovely example of an Arts & Crafts piece both in the bold celtic design and the rounded shape of the frame, the small flowing leaf is a very delicate example of the Art Nouveau style set within a slightly square but still rounded frame-shape, and finally the largest frame is more typically late Victorian, both in its shape and the style of the dainty, more naturalistic flowers.

Measuring about 2"/5cms across, they could easily be turned into period purses.
There are only a handful of the Victorian and Art Nouveau ones, but lots of the celtic Arts & Crafts style. I shall put them on my website later today, please contact me via the website email if you are interested.

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

Two 19th c pelmets possibly manufactured at Nantes or Alsace & Bolbec or Rouen

2011-10-12T04:02:00.000-07:00

Here are two early 19th century French printed toile pelmets, one commemorative with some scenes from the history of Mary Queen of Scots, the other showing classical Greek scenes. They both date to somewhere about 1810-30. The red toile is plate printed in a traditional, slightly old fashioned style and most likely comes from Bolbec or Rouen as both regions are known to have produced very similar versions of this design. I am not sure about the purple toile, but I have a feeling it was manufactures at Nantes or possibly Alsace. It may be a bit earlier than the other one as it is a very neoclassical 'Empire' design, simple and elegant.

Both pelmets are currently listed on my website: www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

Regency Silkwork c1810-20

2011-10-11T07:10:00.001-07:00

I have begun to update the website, here is one of the new pieces listed in the embroidery section, a wonderful framed and glazed Regency Silkwork picture in very good condition.

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

The Most perfect present: Daisy my new English Wooden doll

2011-10-08T04:07:00.000-07:00

Imagine my surprise and delight when I opened an unexpected mystery parcel from Canada to find this incredibly beautiful reproduction English wooden doll made secretly for me for my 50th birthday by David of The Old Pretenders who, together with Paul, make the finest museum quality reproductions and restorations of 17th and 18th century English wooden dolls.

We have been friends for a while now and I source authentic scraps of fabric from the period for them to dress their creations wherever possible, and we often chatter away about life, the universe and everything via email. I have always loved these dolls with a passion, but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would own one, especially such a beautiful girl, who so reminds me of my daughter when she was a wee bairn! Her name is Daisy, she is about 14"/35.5cms tall, and has the most perfect patina with the most delicate eyelashes and brows. Thank you David, you have made a dream come true...

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

A pair of late 18th/early 19thc Aubusson tapestry chair panels

2011-09-22T04:21:00.000-07:00

These pretty hand-loomed Aubusson tapestry chair panels are quite faded, but to lovely antique effect. It also shows how they here attached to the chairs with large round upholstery nails or some-such fixing as the tapestry is less faded where these were nailed into place.

The tapestry is woven in fine wool and silk on a linen warp. A few weft threads have rotted away here and there, but these can be restored as the weft is intact. I am selling these via my ebay shop, the listings will come on this evening.

A tiny Joan of Arc tin

2011-09-18T02:19:00.001-07:00

After recently finding the Joan of Arc toile posted below, I was thrilled to find this little tin at a flea market in Brighton yesterday. I think it may be an patch pot, but am not too sure, it looks far too small for a compact or even a snuff pot. The engraving may be early 19th century with its 'C' scroll border, and Joan looks quite similar here to the rendering of her on the toile, so it may be French. A very pretty little pot!

An exciting unused bolt of early 19th century toile de Nantes

2011-09-13T01:26:00.000-07:00

Last week I was at a large antiques fair and the weather was appalling. We needed refreshment and a break from the wind and rain so made our way to the café building which also had some stall holders on the ground floor. From across the room I could see a large pile of red-printed fabric and walked towards it transfixed. It turned out to be an unused bolt of roller-printed neoclassical Toile in deep madder red, possibly from Nantes, most likely dating to about 1815. It depicts the story of Joan of Arc. It had been found tucked away in an old French amoire. I asked how much there was and was told there was 6.3 meters. The price seemed very reasonable, so I bought it straight away and tucked it into a bag to protect it from the rain.

It wasn't until later that I realised there was quite a bit more than 6 meters, it turned out to be a 20 meter bolt, probably a length intended for a whole set of bed curtains etc but never made up. The last picture is a reference to the same toile in a different colourway from the book: Antique French Textiles for Designers by June K Laval, I have an apron printed in Blue in the same toile, but am thrilled to bits with this wonderful unused yardage which has gone to Christie's for an appraisal.

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

19th Century Patchwork/Reference Scraps

2011-08-25T06:36:00.001-07:00

I recently bought a lovely batch of tiny French fabric swatches and scraps which inspired me to sort out a selection of small pieces of mostly 19th and some 18th century French printed cottons. All these pieces are small, some very worn but all are interesting pieces.

I have listed the first batch on my website, all range in price from £5.00 to £20.00, lovely little gems that are fantastic, unique reference pieces for study or perfect for cutting into tiny patchwork pieces for a special project.

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

New Antique & Vintage French Florals & Toiles

2011-08-11T04:20:00.000-07:00

Imagine my excitement when a text from a dealer told me that they had just taken charge of a large batch of antique & vintage French fabrics and would I like to come and see them? Needless to say I didn't need too much encouragement, and ended up buying up most of what they had.

Here are some of them, a wonderful array of colour and pattern. Some are for sale through the website, others in my ebay shop, but it will take me a while to list them all!

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

A new Brocante in East Sussex: 'Chapelle Rouge'

2011-08-05T05:49:00.000-07:00

Some friends of mine recently opened a large French Brocante-style Barn in West Sussex to sell their wonderful finds: rustic oak furniture, armoires etc, Linen sheets & bedding, textiles, kitchenalia, gardenalia (if there is such a word), architectural salvage and so much more. Here are a few photos I took on my visit today. If ever you are in West Sussex, it is definitely worth a visit.

Chapelle Rouge

Cherry Tree Farm

Henfield Road

Small Dole

BN5 9XT

Tel: 07931660592

grayman57@gmail.com

New Website French Florals & Toiles

2011-08-04T05:00:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of the delicate antique French fabrics newly listed on my website.

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

Some Interesting Victorian Items

2011-07-31T04:41:00.000-07:00

I am starting to feature some interesting Victorian items on the Misc page of my website, here are the first three items, a collapsable Opera hat or top hat, a farthingale and a miniature Etui in the shape of a Gladstone bag.

Victorian silk Opera top hats are so called as they can be easily collapsed flat to stow away safely, for example in an opera claokroom. These hats were invented in 1812 by Antoine Gibus in France when the fashion for wearing very tall hats in such places as the Opera became an annoyance to those seated behind the wearer…

The farthingale dates to about 1860 - thanks Glo for the help with the dating - flat fronted with a bell-shaped back to give the correct shape for the period. It is made of pink wool lined with cream silk with metal boning. It too collapses flat for storage. It is quite tatty, but as very few from the period survive it is an interesting piece for reference or study.

The miniature gladstone-style etui is very sweet, perfectly elegant yet eminently practical at the same time! I have seen a few ordinary 19th century handbags in the is style - all French - so although this was bought in the UK I suspect it to be French.

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

A Magpie or possibly a Dragon's Hoard

2011-07-26T02:51:00.000-07:00

More glittery things from the magpie's hoard

Those of you who often visit this page will be aware of my haberdashery habit, or fixation with threads, especially of the vantage glittery variety! I staggered home under the weight of quite a few kilograms of booty last weekend, all vintage or antique French threads and braids, ranging from the 1960s right back to about 1916, so some are almost 100 years old!

Where does it all come from? Well, I have been lucky enough to get to know a dealer who cleared an old French factory; he started off a few years ago with a large lock-up stacked full of it all, but now there isn't too mach left, so I greedily grab a bit more whenever I see it... And yes, I do sell it from time to time, but not too much... It is 'My Precious'...

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

Pretty 19th century French prints

2011-07-06T06:04:00.000-07:00

These pretty French prints arrived in the post today and have been a real pleasure to photograph and process for the website as they are so interesting and photogenic. Natural dyes like indigo and madder give such wonderful colours and shades especially when gently faded over time.

18th century prints began by imitating book printing styles butthe 19th century saw the gradual invention & introduction of a new textile repertoire using innovative ideas and motifs along with traditional ones that exploited the growth of new technology such as roller printing.

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

July 4th, A British toile commemorating Independence Day

2011-07-04T04:34:00.000-07:00

Happy July 4th to all my American friends! Here is a very special fragment of a late 18th century British toile commemorating Independence Day, called America Presenting at the Altar of Liberty Medallions to Her Illustrious Sons. It was given to me by an American friend and fellow collector a while ago as a thank you for sourcing some early block printed textiles for him (thanks Bronnie). It is a rare and sought after design, especially when there is a full pattern repeat, which this fragment doesn't have, but there is enough here to get the gist of the design, The famous toile company at Jouy produced a very similar design in 1790 that was in print for 17 years.

New trims, ribbons, braids & lamés

2011-07-03T00:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I stocked up on vintage metal trims & lamés as well as a few hanks of beautiful ribbon. Best of all, I found a huge hank of what I think must be unused oyster pink corset laces as they are incredibly long, probably dating to the 1930s-50s made from a wide, silky ribbon-like fabric. If they aren't corset laces, I have no idea what else they could be used for!

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

Haberdashery sorted and updated online

2011-06-30T04:42:00.000-07:00

This week I am updating my website and have just sorted out the haberdashery page. Instead of listing individual items as I had before, I have decided in this category to show the kind of things I have available so that anyone who needs something similar can contact me for details of what is available that may suit their specific needs.

My current inventory includes a good variety of vintage & antique French reels of metal embroidery thread, metal passementerie and slim silky Russian braid as well as silk 7 hemp thread, buttons, ribbons and much more.

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T01:38:00.000-07:00

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

18th century pencilled silk

2011-06-14T10:07:00.001-07:00

This is a beautiful fragment of 18th century pencilled or hand painted silk. It most likely originated from China for the western market, and was probably part of a high status gown.

I have a few pieces of this lovely silk, this piece is listed in my website but there are more available, please contact me via the website for more details if you are interested.

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

Have a wonderful weekend whatever you are doing!

2011-06-11T04:59:00.001-07:00

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

Lovely Linen Thread

2011-06-09T03:49:00.001-07:00

A fantastic find, an complete box of heavy khaki French linen thread, most likely dating to about 1930. I will be selling the spools on my website, good strong thread with 50 grams per spool.

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

The emergance of Neoclassical toiles in the early 19th century

2011-05-27T02:46:00.000-07:00

I recently bought a batch of small French toile fragments, some in good condition, others quite worn, but most are documented pieces that I have been able to identify using some of my books. They are mostly early 19th century pieces that either describe the progression in style from Rococo to Neoclassical, or full blown neoclassical design in all its glory. They also exploit the technology of roller printing to its limit, using background texture and pattern to link motifs that used to 'float' like islands on the background fabric because of the constraints of block printing techniques and to a lesser degree plate printing.

The Assassination of Kléber or The French in Egypt c1825

2011-05-25T09:51:00.000-07:00

This lovely fragment of printed French toile depicts the Assassination of Jean Baptiste Kléber in Egypt: "Jean Baptiste Kléber (9 March 1753 – 14 June 1800) was a French general during the French Revolutionary Wars. His military career started in Habsburg service, but his plebeian ancestry hindered his opportunities. Eventually, he volunteered for the French Army in 1791, and rose through the ranks. Kléber served in the Rhineland during the War of the First Coalition, and also suppressed the Vendee Revolt. He retired to private life in the peaceful interim after the Treaty of Campo Formio, but returned to military service to accompany Napoleon in the Egyptian Campaign in 1798-99. When Napoleon left Egypt to return to Paris, he appointed Kléber as commander of the French forces. He was assassinated by a student in Cairo in 1800." Wikipedia

It was roller-printed on cotton and manufactured by Hartmann et Fils in Munster, c1825.

It is interesting to note the that assassin is depicted wearing a typical European paisley shawl from the period with characteristic upright boteh; Patricia Frost says in her book Miller's Collecting Textiles: "It is said that the Indian shawl came to Europe with Napoleon's soldiers returning from the Egyptian campaigns - by the end of the 18th century, fashionable European ladies were clamouring for 'cachemire' shawls to drape over their shoulders over the Empire-line fashions of the day."

All That Glitters...

2011-05-21T08:30:00.000-07:00

I bought about 20 kilograms of these gorgeous embroidery threads today; sadly the huge stock the dealer had is finally coming to an end, so I bought up as much as I could carry, and reserved some for next week. They came from a closed-down factory in Lyon, France and mostly date to the 1950s and 60s. The dealer bought about 2 tons of them a few years ago, and they have been bewitching me ever since. They are made from gold, silver or coloured flat metal wrapped around a core thread, some are wrapped in brown paper & string in kilogram batches.

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

L’amour et L’amité c1820

2011-05-14T01:49:00.000-07:00

This is a beautiful piece of antique French toile d'Alsace dating to about 1818-20 in a design called l’Amour et l’Amitié or Love and Friendship. It is plate printed in madder on fine cotton. Several similar toiles were produced in France at the same time; a similar toile de Jouy is recorded called 'L'Amour Les Conduit - L'Amitié Les Raméne or Love Leads Them Away - Friendship Brings Them Back. The toile designers appear to have taken their inspiration from the artist Two sources; Prud'hon whose works included a pinting called L'Union de l'Amour et de l'Amitié or the Union of Love & Friendship and two engravings made after paintings by Mallet, L'Amour Les Conduit and L'Amitié le Raméne.

The piece shown here was printed in Munster at the Hartmann factory.

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

18th century silk & 2 17th century velvets

2011-05-05T10:34:00.000-07:00

Here are some beautiful pieces of early velvet and silk. I think the pink silk is 18th century, French, some small fragments of a large scale damask pieced together, mismatched, some even back to front, but still a wonderful reference piece. The deep blue/green velvet piece is made up as a runner with passementerie trim and a silk lining, again, pieced from fragments. I believe it to be Italian, late 17th century or early 18th century, but cannot find any solid references, but it is very similar to the red & gold piece, which I could reference: I think it is Italian and dates to the second half of the 17th century. Velvet was extensively used as a furnishing fabric because of it's comfortable, hard-wearing pile. The pile was often one colour, generally red as it is in this example, on a matching or contrasting background.

It is known as Ciselé velvet, the pattern, incomplete here, shows large styalized florals and leaves in pinkish red pile, cut and uncut, on a yellow satin ground. The selvages have narrow stripes of green and cream silk.

Referenced from the book: European Textiles in the Kier Collection 4000BC to 1800AD by Monique King & Donald King published in 1990 by Faber & Faber

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

The Prettiest textiles for Spring decorating & sewing projects

2011-05-04T02:33:00.000-07:00

Nothing brings a fresh Spring or early Summer ambience into a room like palest pastel and ice-cream coloured antique and vintage textiles, particularly florals and toiles. Even the smallest scrap can be used for something; a lavender bag or shelf trim, a patchwork cushion or cottage-style window pelmet, or a delicately faded floral tablecloth or throw to brighten and freshen a room in an instant.

All the above lovely fabrics & textiles are for sale (or already sold) in my ebay shop & website this week, but please contact me via my website (web address top right) if you would like a patchwork/project pack custom made for your requirements, prices are usually around £22.00 for florals or tickings, £33.00 for vintage toiles or £44.00 (dependant on size of pack) for early antique toiles when available, mixed packs can always be made up for your too!

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

Passementerie

2011-05-01T02:45:00.000-07:00

A few years ago I was delighted to discover the French word for decorative textile trims & braids: Passementerie. Such a wonderful word for such beautiful creations, Wikipedia defines the word as: Passementerie or Passementarie is the art of making elaborate trimmings or edgings (in French, passements) of applied braid, gold or silver cord, embroidery, coloured silk, or beads for clothing or furnishings.

While I don't know very much about their history and construction techniques, I really like these trims, tassels and braids, and will be doing some research into them when I can find the time.

Here are a few antique French examples, I love the one made up of wooden drops covered in woven silk with a chenille tuft at the end, this has been made somewhere about 1900 in a Louis Phillipe style c1830. I like the orange silk fringe with the fancy gimp along the top, this is a Napoleon III trim dating to about 1860, as is the multi-coloured tassel trim made from wool. The woven silk bands are simple but lovely, the bottom one is made up like a ribbon, the one in the middle of the bottom picture is made up like a braid.

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

A Simple Early 19th Century French Wedding

2011-04-28T09:31:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow's Royal Wedding coincided with the purchase of this lovely early 19th century French printed toile de Rouen which arrive in the post today.

It depicts a lovely village wedding, starting with the introduction of the young man to his sweetheart's family. The couple exchange vows inside the church, before parading joyfully out of the church to the merry tune of the Fiddle. Next we see them and their family enjoying their delicious wedding banquet. Finally, we see into the future as the happy couple play with their little daughter.

It is a very charming panel despite being quite faded. The definition of the print isn't as good as it could be, this tended to happen when the engraved metal plates used for printing began to wear down after too much use, leaving a less distinct pattern. This sometimes allowed the dye to flood out a little too much, further increasing the lack of definition. However, I quite like the effect, it softens all the outlines, slightly blurring the detail, adding to the shabby chic charm of the design in this case.

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

17th century bobbin laces

2011-04-27T04:48:00.001-07:00

Here are 3 pieces of very early 17th century linen bobbin lace ; 2 pieces of Italian-style baroque lace, and a rather unusual piece of 'pinless' lace most likely from Flanders. This rather clunky looking lace puzzled me and I was unable to identify it at all, so I had it appraised by an American lace expert: 'The pinless laces are called that because they use pins only at the very edges of the lace, not at every intersection of the interior of the lace. They tend to be very early forms and are scattered across Flanders, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Sweden and Russia. Very early Flanders has this type of squared solid clothwork, and a variety of grounds are used, such as the most common trademark ground, the 5 dice, Kat stitch ground AKA Turnhout ground/ Pt d Paris ground, and round ground as found in old Valenciennes.'

The other two floral laces are either Flemish of Milanese as far as I can tell, the wider, finer lace I think may be Milanese while the narrower less delicate lace is probably Flemish - I need to do a bit more research in to techniques before I can be more positive! I find early laces incredibly fascinating in hteir beauty, complexity and variety. I especially admire the hardiness of the linen upholstery laces of this period as they can still be found in wonderful condition due to the hard wearing nature of flax.

Please click and double click on the photos for supersized and enlarged pictures showing the incredible detail of these laces.

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

A Riot of Colour and Texture: Indiennes, Tapestry & Needlepoint

2011-04-20T01:43:00.000-07:00

Summer seems to have arrived too early here is the UK; mind you, I'm not complaining, but April in the UK is usually filled with Spring sunshine with that slightly crisp edge reminding us that we still have 'April showers' a-plenty to come before 'May's Flowers' as the old rhyme says. Yesterday was a different story though, 25C at Ardingly Antiques Fair; I was a little ill-prepared, and ended up getting a little sun-burnt and dehydrated and had to leave early, but before the heat overcame me, I managed to find some real treasures: some lovely fabrics including a couple of chintzes & indiennes (I suspect the yellow one is from Jouy), a Berlin woolwork panel depicting a playing card theme and an older Chinoiserie panel in fine tent stitch and a pair of gorgeous cushions made from 18th century tapestry fragments. Note to self: Drink more water and have breakfast before going to an all day fair...

Delicately Faded Shabby Chic French Florals for Spring

2011-04-15T00:58:00.000-07:00

With perfect timing for Spring, one of my favourite dealers invited me to view their new French stock; she knows well my penchant for gently faded delicate floral fabrics in pale, wistful colours as well as stronger, richer tones, and she had plenty of both!

Most of the fabric here are late 19th century, a few from the first half of the 20th century, mostly lightweight lawns. These kind of antique and vintage cottons are becoming harder and harder to find so I was thrilled to buy up all that she had. The only drawback is that most of the pieces here are quite small, but that makes them perfect to cut and combine in pretty projects like cushion covers or patchwork.

I shall be listing a few pieces on ebay this evening, and should have some small patchwork packs for sale in the website over the next couple of days. I always find that Spring is the best time for buying textile stock, and have several buying trips lined up over the next few days, so watch this space for more oodles of interesting things!

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

17th century drawn thread band, possibly a Swaddling Band

2011-04-11T03:07:00.000-07:00

I shall be selling some very early pieces of lace and drawn thread work from time to time on my website.

This is a beautiful drawn thread narrow linen band dating to the 17th century. I have read that these were sometimes used as Swaddling Bands for babies, but have no idea if this really was the case, it could equally be an upholstery edging, perhaps for an altar cloth or somesuch. It has a wonderful linen fringe along the bottom edge and simple lace across the top. Similar bands that I have read about are usually a little over 3 meters long when complete, this one has been cut down a little at each end and measures 2.54 meters by 13 centimeters.

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

Newly listed embroideries

2011-04-07T09:55:00.000-07:00

Here are 2 embroidered panels listed on the website today, a beautiful 1834 sampler and a heavy Berlin woolwork panel from a fire screen.

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

More beautiful, cosy quilts...Claimed by the cat!

2011-04-05T06:20:00.000-07:00

A few more wonderful quilts for the website, my cat Chya particularly approves of the enormous Velvet patchwork French quilt... It is damp, grey and cold outside at the moment so he has been sulking all morning, so at least the quilts have calmed him down, even if his presence in the middle of the pile of quilts has stopped me working... Time for a nice pot of tea I think!

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

Happy Mother's Day

2011-04-03T05:38:00.001-07:00

A wonderful selection of family scenes from late 18th and early 19th century French printed toiles. Happy Mother's Day!

Lovely Lewes

2011-04-02T04:04:00.000-07:00

Earlier in the week I took some bits and bobs over to Lewes to stock up my little cabinet in Cliffe Antiques Centre and to add a couple more things to my unit in Emporium Antiques Centre. I always enjoy my trips to Lewes as it is such a beautiful town with the added bonus of having lots of large antique shops and malls to explore. It is rare for me not to find something interesting, my favourites found on this trip have to be the shabby little case lined with the most delicious floral cotton and the dainty early Victorian bands embroidered with delicate silk roses.

Quilts Galore!

2011-03-30T06:35:00.001-07:00

While 'Quilts Galore' may be overstating it a bit, I am pleased to announce a new 'Quilts' page on my website. There are currently 3 quilts for sale there, and more to come in a week or two. An elegant Toile de Bordeaux and Vichy check French boutis, a 19th century double-sided French boutis and a beautiful arborescent toile quilt in need of a little TLC.

Here are some photos of some quilts and coverlets I have sold in the past, along with the ones listed on the website which this should give an idea of the kind of quilts that I will be hunting out and selling.

www.morgaine-le-fay.c0.uk

My tidy 'Scrap Box'!

2011-03-27T07:05:00.000-07:00

I always try to save even the tiniest, most damaged pieces of antique & vintage textiles as they are far to lovely to get rid of and I often refer to them for reference when trying to identify a new textile, or make up patchwork packs if requested. However, they tend to to be stuffed unceremoniously into large paper carrier bags and thrown out of sight behind my old chaise longue in my studio. The chaise has finally had it and I have bought a rather lovely French sofa to replace it, so today I am moving it into my store-room until I can decide what to do with it. I thought it would be a quick job, but I had forgotten about the bags of scraps! An hour or so later, I have a wonderfully arranged new 'Scrap Box', but the chaise is still unmoved... Right, I must stop playing with fabric and get on with it!

A Stitch in Time

2011-03-23T06:23:00.000-07:00

I usually list most textiles on ebay on a Thursday, so today I had the usual exceedingly difficult job of deciding what to part with. The trouble is, although when I go to fairs I am buying textiles for the business, I tend to forget that and imagine that I am buying for myself... Of course this makes for a constant struggle about what to sell, but at least I get to keep things for a while before they have to go...

Today's selection have been chosen for the website as well as for ebay. There is a lovely 19th century flowery French boutis, a tiny military hat tin, a gorgeous poppy design chintz-covered box and an interesting French hemp sack for the website, and among other things a wonderful 1834 sampler, 2 beautiful embroidered French chair covers c1800 and whatever else I can rustle up between now and tomorrow evening. Decisions, decisions! All should be listed by the end of Thursday evening.

Morgaine Le Fay Antique Textiles

Roses, Roses, Roses!

2011-03-21T04:32:00.000-07:00

After a glorious Spring weekend, and more sunshine forcast for this week, my thoughts have turned towards flowers, as they often to when I am thinking about textiles. I have put some lovely rosie textiles into the website, including a yummy Canton piano shawl with gypsy colours that would be perfect to wear on a warm summer evening, a tiny, quite damaged bur still delicious French silk child's bodice that would display beautifully in a boudoir, and some wonderful French cotton panels printed with baskets of shabby chic roses against a trellis over-grown with morning glory that would be wonderful for Spring & Summer sewing projects.

'Sweet spring, full of sweet days and roses, a box where sweets compacted lie.' - George Herbert

Morgaine Le Fay Antique Textiles

A vintage shop display box of embroidery silks

2011-03-16T04:53:00.000-07:00

I was delighted to find this wonderful old shop display box of vintage silk skeins, made in France for the British market, most likely from the 1930s or 40s. I can easily imagine it taking pride of place on a shop counter! Most of the skeins are in wonderful condition, bright and unworn by time, some are a bit tangled, but altogether they produce an amazing rainbow of colour. Most have their original paper labels attached with washing details, shade numbers, silk type etc.

The box also came with a separate bag stuffed with yet more silk skeins which I have now started to sell in my website and on ebay in small colour-coded batches. These extra skeins were a lucky find as I can now justify keeping the box of silks as it is complete by selling the separate skeins to cover its cost. I am thinking of selling at some textile fairs later this year and think that this and the salesman's silk handkerchief sample book I posted about earlier would be wonderful things to take.

Morgaine Le Fay Antique Textiles

The Plethorium of M. Le Fay

2011-03-15T05:47:00.000-07:00

I have a small unit in Emporium Antiques Centre in Cliffe High Street in Lewes where I enjoy selling interesting things, often quite curious or quirky, or items that are too big or awkward to sell through my website Morgaine Le Fay Antique Textiles. I like to completely change the look of the unit with the changing of the seasons, and am having fun planning the Spring 'makeover' which I have decided will have a loose travel theme, with old leather suitcases, trunks, maps, French metal oil cans & containers, as well as plenty of wonderful, fresh spring-inspired antique & vintage textiles. Here is are a few of photos of the Plethorium as it is at the moment, more photos to come of its new look sometime over the weekend, hopefully!

Emporium Antiques Centre
42 Cliffe High Street
Lewes
East Sussex
BN7 2AN

Haberdashery & textile addiction sated... For now...

2011-03-12T13:16:00.000-08:00

Today I woke up thinking of buttons... The sun was shining, and it was Saturday, so decided to set off to our local Saturday street market in search of vintage goodies. Lo and behold, my favourite haberdasher was there, so I bought some beautiful vintage French buttons, ribbons, trims, fabric and much more. Button craving duly sated... For now! Also, some linens & silks, a marvelous antique painted-metal trunk lined with the most beautiful old wallpaper and a rather elegant, huge old gladstone-style vintage leather suitcase to put in the antiques Mall for the Spring make-over!

Rustic simplicity with homespun linen, checks, roses & romantic toiles

2011-03-09T04:45:00.000-08:00

Cheerful checks, romantic roses and toiles mixed with rustic linens are the perfect way to brighten things up as the days steadily grow longer and sunnier. I was just about to post this when the doorbell rang, it was the postman delivery a lovely new French quilt, the prettiest tiny toile print in gently faded raspberry on pale cream. It is the top quilt in the photo above. I am thrilled, many thanks to Jo from Hesta and the Pugs.

www.morgaine-le-fay.co.uk

Chastleton, a dressing room decked in 17th century Hungarian point embroidery

2011-03-06T06:09:00.000-08:00

I was researching some embroidery techniques when I came across these photos of this wonderful dressing room with walls covered from floor to ceiling in 17th century Hungarian point flame pattern needlework. It is quite the most incredible room I have seen for a long time.

Chastleton was built by wool merchant & member of Parliament Walter Jones in 1603: '...it has been hanging in the house since it was built: listed in Walter Jones' inventory of chattels dated 1663, it is extremely rare & valuable.The colour gradations must have been exquisite when the silk and wool used were fresh; even with irregular fading (different dyed batches changing colour variously) the effect is splendid.' Country House Needlepoint by Frances Kennett & Belinda Scarlett, published by Guild Publishing London 1988.

This wonderful book also has patterns for reproducing some gorgeous traditional-style embroideries, a highly recommended book if you can get hold of it.

A salesman's silk handkerchief samples c1930

2011-03-04T01:26:00.000-08:00

I bought these at an antiques fair the other day, an intriguing home-made book stuffed full of 1930s silk handkerchief samples. It is simply made from sheets of brown paper bound in the middle with coarse string, to which have been carefully pinned about 130 silk handkerchiefs in a wonderful range of designs; some pages have up to seven different ones placed neatly on top of each other and pinned in place.

There are florals, paisleys, spotted and patterned, many still with labels giving the price per dozen, or proclaiming them to be hand printed British silk. It looks like the kind of sample book a traveling salesman would have made up for himself and kept in a smart little suitcase to collect orders for 'a dozen of the florals' or '2 dozen nauticals & 3 dozen paisleys' from various shops on his round. They remind me of handkerchiefs tucked neatly into coat or jacket pockets or drenched in smelling salts to revive fainting ladies in episodes of Poirot!

A beautiful very old woolwork picture

2011-03-03T04:55:00.001-08:00

This wonderful woolwork picture has been cut down from a larger panel by the look if it. I think it dates to somewhere around 1750-1800, it is gently fade to muted colours over the years, with a charming couple dancing and making music. It is mostly worked in grospoint with petit point detail in wool. It is in super condition, all except for some missing stitches across the panel, if you look closely by clicking on the pics for a supersize image, it looks as though 1 colour wool has disintegrated throughout, most likely a brown or dark shade that may have been fixed with iron or something like that, which caused this particular wool to rot, leaving the rest intact!

Gorgeous gold & silver threads almost 100 years old!

2011-03-02T02:58:00.001-08:00

My favourite French haberdashery dealer had a small batch of these incredible old French wooden reels for sale, and needless to say I snapped up an many as I could; I can't help being a magpie, shiny, glittery things always appeal greatly to me, and of course, It is all for the good of the business, so I don't even need to feel guilty!

They seem to all be slightly different, with some marked as dating to 1916, most marked with all sorts of cryptic but fascinating details on the ends of the reels. I have been told that these old threads most likely have quite a good amount of real gold and silver in them, and this would account for the beautiful range of shades and tones. Most are either round or oval section threads made from metal wrapped around a core thread, but there were a few interesting twisted threads as well, although most of these have sold already... I have listed some on ebay, please see my ebay shop address in the sidebar if you are interested.
I shall get some into the website in a few days when time allows.

You can never have too many boxes, especially pretty vintage French ones like these!

2011-02-27T05:53:00.000-08:00

These beautiful vintage & antique French fabric-covered boxes make eye-catching storage solutions if you are like me and have far too much clutter! They are yet another way to bring flowers and prettiness into the home. Some of these will be for sale in my website later today, and hopefully more to come as I go buying again now the Spring is almost upon us.

19th century Elegance, new treasures listed on my new website today

2011-02-24T06:12:00.000-08:00

These beautiful textiles speak for themselves, wonderful pieces from the 19th century, from France & England, please visit my website for more details, thank you!

Archetypal '30s Glamour!

2011-02-23T09:35:00.000-08:00

This French Art Deco embroidered cushion cover just oozes '30s glamour! It is an unused panel embroidered on pre-stenciled hemp, it would have been made into an oval silk or velvet backed cushion typical of the period; more details on my website.

2 different versions of the same toile, Les Savoyardes, toile de Bordeaux c1790

2011-02-22T03:35:00.000-08:00

I have come across at least two slightly different versions of this late 18thc toile, there were no hard & fast copyright laws at the time so popular designs were very commonly 'borrowed' by different manufacturers. Also, designers often worked for a few different factories at the same time. I am not sure which here is the earliest, one is very slightly cruder than the other - the paler design at the top of the comparison photos - but they are about the same size and more or less the same composition, so either a refinement by the same designer or an almost exact copy from a rival.

The last two photos refer to the book: Antique French Textiles for Designers by J K Laval for a reference to the toile, it looks like the slightly cruder design in the photo. I have had other toiles from Bordeaux that look as though they were designed by the same artist as the slightly darker, more sophisticated toile, the cruder one reminds me of an artistic style more common in toiles de Rouen, but who knows!

Some interesting finds

2011-02-19T12:00:00.000-08:00

I had a lovely day visiting my daughter at her university town today, and we couldn't resist visiting some of the antique and vintage shops and found some real bargains, and I bought her a beautiful vintage diamanté necklace. I found some really lovely things for the website and my cabinet in Lewes including a tiny bone doll's fan, a miniature Singer sewing machine, a stunning '20s rag doll, a pretty Victorian silk greeting card, and best of all, the most diaphamous and delicate early 18th century black paisley silk gauze shawl. I think I need to visit her more often!

Interesting, damaged 18th & 19th century fabrics

2011-02-17T04:48:00.000-08:00

When I am on the hunt for textiles I don't necessarily pass something over just because it is very worn and damaged; even when riddled with holes, covered in marks or literally falling apart, textiles have a story to tell. Often even early pieces dating to the 18th and 19th centuries like these can be bought for next to nothing, and a lot can be learned from them, their history, method of construction/manufacture, use etc, without being too 'precious' about them as one could be about a piece in excellent condition.

I have a lot of regular customers around the world who collect such pieces for study, interior design, textile design or perhaps to dress a period doll or use as inspiration when decorating a film or stage set . Of course, I am thrilled every time I discover a textile in wonderful condition, but to be honest, I prefer the ratty, tatty pieces like these that I can handle without fear of damaging them. I shall be listing these on ebay this evening.

Pretty Patchwork Packs!

2011-02-16T02:33:00.000-08:00

Toggles & Tassels & Trim!

2011-02-15T03:31:00.000-08:00

More goodies either listed on my website or coming soon in a day or two! Please contact me via the 'contact' details on the website if you are looking for anything in particular.