Antique TOMATO RED STRIPE LINEN MANGLECLOTH -German^i^

PLEASE NOTE... although Shipping within the US is $FREE, your invoice from eBay will state that insurance is included in the shipping, IT IS NOT. Also, more than one purchase, DO NOT USE EBAY CHECKOUT! Please wait for personalized invoice from me.

Multi TOMATO red woven stripes, 36 3/4" wide x 118", stripes run the length of both long edges, no holes/thins/stains, 100% flax linen, could use a launder to remove any/all minimal 'normal' storage blemishes after all of these years of storage (see pictures for example of blemishes if there are any, and all will remove), otherwise, EXCELLENT. A mangle is a machine for pressing fabrics (see picture), and the mangle cloth is the fabric that was used to sandwich the garment as a means of protecting it from damage while being pulled through the mangle. For those of you that do not know what what the cloth looks like open (see picture) of the pumpkin and blue cloth. These items make terrific country curtains, bench seat covers, banquet tablecloths, festival tablecovers for an Octoberfest, decks/garden fabric, TOTE bags, BEACH bags, awning material, PATCHWORK pillows, artist canvas, (my own creation) SANTA SACKS, etc. and will last another 100+ years for whatever you use it for!:-) Fellow EBayers have also come up with shower curtains, napkins and old fashioned table skirts (I would not recommend a Christmas tree skirt unless you have a very small tree or plan on making a PATCHWORK quilted one), and a cute idea of Christmas stockings! One must simply borrow ideas...:-) And for those of you who are not seamstresses or like to sew yet love the look and feel for the old and country, how about filling an antique cupboard with linen and cotton remnants?:-) Linen cupboard is not included with the fabric purchase (only for display)!

QUESTION and ANSWER

Is it a French Manglecloth or a German Manglecloth?

As the border between Germany and France changed back and forth several times, factories were sometimes in Germany or sometimes in France. Sooooo… there were areas that were German, were French, were German, were French, were, were, were... (well not that many times), however, you can purchase this MANGLE FABRIC at either location and label your item FRENCH linen or GERMAN linen. This information also stands true for all Linen/Hemp Grain Sacks/Towels and Rolls of fabric. Some TEXTILES are being MASS-produced in some of the old EAST BLOCK countries (I found out recently) and information is being provided as an FYI for those of you that do not OR did not know.

DEFINITIONS and INFORMATION

ANTIQUE: decorative object made at an earlier period and according to various customs laws at least 100 years ago. I will be using anything prior to 1930.

VINTAGE: of old; dating from the past: OLD, OUTMODED, OLD-FASHIONED. I will be using 1940 – late 70’s.

ESTATE SALES: household sales, moving sales, rummage sales, etc., all sales coming from an estate.

EUROPEAN means exactly that, “European” and does not by any means limit the items from Germany only. Folks have moved from one Country to another much as we move from one State to another. Exquisite Irish lace is sent as a gift to Norway from a friend, a piece of Belgian lace is now in Germany, or a piece of Italian lace is now in Austria, just as an East Lake piece is now on the other end of the USA.

There are incredible antique lace patterns that are traceable to the Country of origin, as well as distinctive linens and textiles. Only if I am certain will I state where a piece is made, otherwise I describe as ‘European’ or where the item was purchased.

There are many sellers that are reputable and honest, and equally as many selling ‘words’ and ‘fluff’. Please be careful.

'Why' many antique and vintage linen pieces are mint, near mint, perfect, never used, etc. As most of the vintage floral country cotton (Bauernstoff) and flax linen fabrics (mangle cloths, grain sacks, towels, homespuns) are coming from the farmlands of Germany (hence Farmer’s linen), I will explain. There are many little towns/villages/farming communities in Germany and items have sometimes been stored for 100 years or more, tucked away in trousseaus/hope chests/linen cupboards, etc., or to use for ‘someday’, or pass on. As families passed on and the heirlooms were not wanted by the next generation, the household linens (Linen sheets, Euro shams, hand embroidered tablecloths, nightdresses, lace hankies etc.) are made available for sale in one form or another. Whew, I hope that answers a lot of questions.:-)