Collect and Conserve
Want to Collect Vintage Linens?
Beginning a Collection
The best advice for the new vintage tablecloth collector is to buy what you love! Do not be deterred from purchasing tablecloths with stains or small pinholes. Most yellow stains can be removed or lightened significantly by following a few simple guidelines. We enjoy displaying tablecloths with a few small holes and even those with slight stains. A little bit of wear to a tablecloth adds character and charm to a wonderfully loved piece with a rich history. These imperfections are the result of years of Sunday dinners, family celebrations, and intimate dinner parties. People loved, laughed, and cried over these precious tablecloths, and we are proud to own them.
Enjoying Your Tablecloths… Use and Display
Most vintage printed tablecloths you can find today were made for the smaller tables of yesteryear. Common sizes range from roughly 32" square to about 54" square. We recommend buying several larger gingham and plain tablecloths in solid colors to show off your smaller tablecloths. These tablecloths are inexpensive and very easy to find at local stores. Layering colors will add texture and charm and help hide those little wear-holes. Mix and match and have fun. Our “imperfect” tablecloths warm our kitchens and brighten our lives. Our families and friends are happy to cherish and use each one, knowing that each imperfection is a part of its long history.
Fold and stack vintage printed tablecloths in an open display cabinet. Tuck a smaller tablecloth under your grandmother’s teapot in the china cabinet. Hang them from a vintage ladder or over a stair rail. Bring one out on the garden patio for a lovely lunch spot. These wonderful vintage tablecloths are anywhere from 50 to 125+ years old and were used and cherished. Most will show signs of use. Linens in perfect condition are usually stored carefully and only brought out for “show”.