Want to Find a Good Home for Some Vintage Linens?

We frequently get inquiries from individuals who are wondering what to do with inherited family linens, if we know of anyone who might buy them or possibilities for donating these pieces. Please see below for our suggestions. It is important to note that we do not sell linens unless they are donated to the club to be sold as a fundraiser. The Vintage Tablecloth Lovers Club is the place for member collectors to gain knowledge and to share our hobby with others of like minds. If you are interested in donating linens to the club, you can find more information here.

Colorful Printed Tablecloths from the 1930s-1970s

These are the types of linens our members collect. Keep in mind that demand, scarcity, and condition will drive the price. There are very few mid- century printed tablecloths that command a high price. Often what someone new to collecting thinks must be rare and valuable really isn’t. (That doesn’t mean we don’t love them, because we do!) Some of the best avenues to sell these colorful printed tablecloths are eBay, Etsy, and collectors’ groups on Facebook that specialize in vintage linens. Most vintage printed tablecloths on Etsy and eBay sell for between $20-$35. They typically sell for a bit less in Facebook groups. You might also try consignment shops. Sometimes antique dealers or online sellers will buy a large lot of vintage tablecloths for resale. If you’d rather just donate your tablecloths, collectors are always thrilled to find them at thrift stores. We have a public form that you are welcome to sign up for and post your vintage tablecloths for sale. We don’t get much traffic there from potential buyers, but it is worth a shot. You’ll find our public forum/chat here, with instructions on the page for signing up: http://vintagetableclothloversclub.com/forum.htm. You can post pictures there. If you have more than one tablecloth, we recommend taking just one photograph that shows them all; if people want to see more detail on an individual cloth, they’ll ask. Our club’s overall goal is to uncover and preserve information about these printed tablecloths regarding manufacturer, designers, dates, etc. We have a database of approximately 3,000 cloths (the only one of its kind in the world) and very knowledgeable members. If some colorful vintage tablecloths have come into your hands and you find yourself wanting to learn more and possibly start a collection, you can find membership information here: http://vintagetableclothloversclub.com/join.htm.

White Linen and Damask Tablecloths and Napkins

“The whites,” as we call them, were commonly used in the mid-twentieth century when families entertained more often and formal Sunday dinners were a customary practice. Nowadays, most people don’t live that way anymore, and use of these lovely white linen tablecloths has sharply fallen off. Sadly, there is not as much of a market for them compared to the more colorful printed ones, and they are unlikely to fetch as much money. However, you might try calling caterers or event coordinators, who might want to buy them. Try also antique stores and vintage market organizers, who may know of dealers who specialize in linens. The easiest and quickest option is to donate them, and most thrift stores are happy to accept them. Also consider donating to a church or social organization that does large meals. They may have a member who still loves to iron and would welcome these cloths for special occasions!

Crocheted Tablecloths

The crocheted tablecloths from the mid-20th century are not much in demand today. You will see them on eBay, Etsy, etc., but they seldom command a price that reflects the many hours that went into them. People often overestimate their value because of the time they took to make, but sadly, they just aren’t as popular as they once were. Here again, you can try to sell them via eBay, Etsy, consignment stores, and flea markets, but that assumes you already have a selling situation set up. Donation to a thrift store is always an option, of course.

Embroidered Tablecloths and Linens

This type of vintage linen is easy to find at flea markets, antique stores, etc., as people inherit their grandmother’s things. Like the formal white linens and crocheted tablecloths, both demand and prices are not as high as many people expect. Some more elaborately embroidered tablecloths can fetch a higher price, but those are the exceptions. If you have embroidered tablecloths you want to sell, our recommendations are the same: eBay, Etsy, consignment, flea markets, find dealers who may want to buy a lot for resale, etc. You might also know of a church or social organization (maybe even a restaurant) who does spring teas. These folks might be interested in these.

Want to Find a Good

Home for Some

Vintage Linens?

We frequently get inquiries from individuals who are wondering what to do with inherited family linens, if we know of anyone who might buy them or possibilities for donating these pieces. Please see below for our suggestions. It is important to note that we do not sell linens unless they are donated to the club to be sold as a fundraiser. The Vintage Tablecloth Lovers Club is the place for member collectors to gain knowledge and to share our hobby with others of like minds. If you are interested in donating linens to the club, you can find more information here.

Colorful Printed Tablecloths from

the 1930s-1970s

These are the types of linens our members collect. Keep in mind that demand, scarcity, and condition will drive the price. There are very few mid-century printed tablecloths that command a high price. Often what someone new to collecting thinks must be rare and valuable really isn’t. (That doesn’t mean we don’t love them, because we do!) Some of the best avenues to sell these colorful printed tablecloths are eBay, Etsy, and collectors’ groups on Facebook that specialize in vintage linens. Most vintage printed tablecloths on Etsy and eBay sell for between $20-$35. They typically sell for a bit less in Facebook groups. You might also try consignment shops. Sometimes antique dealers or online sellers will buy a large lot of vintage tablecloths for resale. If you’d rather just donate your tablecloths, collectors are always thrilled to find them at thrift stores. We have a public form that you are welcome to sign up for and post your vintage tablecloths for sale. We don’t get much traffic there from potential buyers, but it is worth a shot. You’ll find our public forum/chat here, with instructions on the page for signing up: http://vintagetableclothloversclub.com/forum.htm. You can post pictures there. If you have more than one tablecloth, we recommend taking just one photograph that shows them all; if people want to see more detail on an individual cloth, they’ll ask. Our club’s overall goal is to uncover and preserve information about these printed tablecloths regarding manufacturer, designers, dates, etc. We have a database of approximately 3,000 cloths (the only one of its kind in the world) and very knowledgeable members. If some colorful vintage tablecloths have come into your hands and you find yourself wanting to learn more and possibly start a collection, you can find membership information here: http://vintagetableclothloversclub.com/join.htm.

White Linen and Damask

Tablecloths and Napkins

“The whites,” as we call them, were commonly used in the mid- twentieth century when families entertained more often and formal Sunday dinners were a customary practice. Nowadays, most people don’t live that way anymore, and use of these lovely white linen tablecloths has sharply fallen off. Sadly, there is not as much of a market for them compared to the more colorful printed ones, and they are unlikely to fetch as much money. However, you might try calling caterers or event coordinators, who might want to buy them. Try also antique stores and vintage market organizers, who may know of dealers who specialize in linens. The easiest and quickest option is to donate them, and most thrift stores are happy to accept them. Also consider donating to a church or social organization that does large meals. They may have a member who still loves to iron and would welcome these cloths for special occasions!

Crocheted Tablecloths

The crocheted tablecloths from the mid-20th century are not much in demand today. You will see them on eBay, Etsy, etc., but they seldom command a price that reflects the many hours that went into them. People often overestimate their value because of the time they took to make, but sadly, they just aren’t as popular as they once were. Here again, you can try to sell them via eBay, Etsy, consignment stores, and flea markets, but that assumes you already have a selling situation set up. Donation to a thrift store is always an option, of course.

Embroidered Tablecloths and Linens

This type of vintage linen is easy to find at flea markets, antique stores, etc., as people inherit their grandmother’s things. Like the formal white linens and crocheted tablecloths, both demand and prices are not as high as many people expect. Some more elaborately embroidered tablecloths can fetch a higher price, but those are the exceptions. If you have embroidered tablecloths you want to sell, our recommendations are the same: eBay, Etsy, consignment, flea markets, find dealers who may want to buy a lot for resale, etc. You might also know of a church or social organization (maybe even a restaurant) who does spring teas. These folks might be interested in these.