On Handkerchiefs
Thursday, 16 September 2010
My mother was driving down her street and passed a few boxes that had been set on the curb. It seems the occupant of the house had passed on and the house was being readied for sale. My mother, unable to pass a promising looking trash pile, and knowing my love for vintage linens (and hankies), grabbed all of them and took them home. She and my aunt lovingly handwashed and pressed each one, and gave them to me in a nice, tidy little stack. I love them so much!
To think someone threw these in the trash. Seeing beautiful old things like this just brings up so many questions in my mind. Who did these belong to? What was she like? How old are they? What tears were shed on these? I also cannot help but marvel at the hard work and excruciating detail that went into making these. It really was a different time, when (most likely) a woman put in many hours to make something as simple as a handkerchief a beautiful thing. Some of these were obviously hand made, and it just amazes me.
What a different time we live in now. The handmade hankie has been replaced with a linty kleenex. What a waste, in more ways than one.
No. 1 — September 16th, 2010 at 6:54 pm
I so enjoyed your blog today! Three new ones at once and I just love that you were gifted a roadside treasure ..and washed, pressed and folded one at that….the beach is truly healing and secretly I dream of making bento box lunches for myself to open like a gift each day!
No. 2 — September 19th, 2010 at 11:21 pm
Exquisite. There are too many fools in this world.
No. 3 — September 26th, 2010 at 2:56 am
beautiful, in so many ways.
No. 4 — October 22nd, 2010 at 3:29 am
What a sacrilege throwing out such beautiful hankies. How lucky you are to have them now!
No. 5 — October 22nd, 2010 at 3:30 am
PS: I would frame the middle hankie (shown)….. would look lovely in a shadow box!