Description
- woven linen damask
- various measurements
a large group (approximately 300 pieces) of damask and domestic linen, including napkins, tablecloths, handtowels, handkerchiefs, many with foliate designs, other geometric and diaper designs, and some with white work or red work detailing including crowns, cyphers and initials, all in a large wicker basket
Condition
All linen cloths have been laundered at some point. As all these cloths are woven with natural fibres, they can be cleaned. Dependent on the stain they would need water or chemical cleaning. With a few exceptions, most are in good condition.
Most are a light ivory colour, a few exceptions are brighter white (from laundering), most are linen damask, with a few later of synthetic fibres.
Most have folds from past storage. Most are in very good condition.
The type of marks found on some cloths include: some minor surface dirt, some minor rust marks/spots (from damp – which appear as tea coloured speckles, some tiny, some more obvious), some wear, weaker areas, minor ink marks, darns (some tiny and some larger), especially on edges and in corners, some small holes (to some of cloths), some small food or wine stains.
The linen is in several bundles: listed on-line in the catalogue and below. There are approximately 300 pieces of linen. The measurements taken are approximate:-
1) A group of linen damask geometric napkins with geometric stars repeat pattern edges, striped edges and chequered corners with white work ‘J’ stylised shield in corner, 19th century, including one 64 by 61.5 cm, nine 65 by 65 cm (of which one slightly bowed and with stains in one corner), one 66 by 60 cm, three 63 by 62 cm (of which one slightly bowed and with concave edges), seven 64 by 62 cm (of which one with three yellow stains, one with minor pulls and one slightly misshapen and with a tiny yellow mark), one 64 by 60 cm, two 63 by 63 cm (of which one with slight stains), one 62 by 62 cm, one 65 by 63 cm and one 65 by 61 cm. (Qty 27); Overall good condition;
2) A group of diaper linen hand towels, 19TH century, Including eleven 88 by 54cm with white work crown, diaper field and striped edges (of which one with a black smudge and one with a purple stain in the centre and a smudge), one 93 by 80 cm plain square diaper pattern with red work ‘IXI’, two 95 by 59cm with white work ‘S’ in a cartouche at the top end, rope twist and ‘C’ scroll border, five 97 by 56 cm plain diaper field ornamental strap border, one 105 by 66cm fine weave diapers with red work crowned ‘A.R. 36-23’, one 94 by 58cm plain diaper field scrolling floral trail border, one 88 by 51cm diaper with striped ends, one 94 by 59cm plain diaper with white work ‘S’, a laundry label ‘AE Sommervell’ ( with a darned repair on the top corner), four 100 by 66cm plain diaper with white striped edges (of which two with irregular edges and one with frayed edges on the long ride), five 96 by 61cm diaper with ‘C’ scroll and floral damask edge, top centre with palmette centred with white work cypher ‘SA’ (of which one with a darned repair in palmette and lower edge and another with darned repairs), one 101 by 54cm overall star motifs within linked trellis and a star border (with minor rust marks), one 92 by 72cm fine diaper field with red work crowned ‘C 36-11’, one 99 by 59cm diaper field ‘C’ scroll borders with flowers at the top and a cartouche centred with white work ‘S’ (worn), and one 96 by 55cm plain diaper with Greek key centred by pendant scroll at both ends and with white work crowned ‘C’ (very worn at edges and format is slightly bowed and concave). (Qty 36); Overall good condition.
3) A group of plain diaper hand towels, 19th century, Including thirteen 103 by 67cm, caramel coloured with red work `CT 144-1886’, nine 97 by 67cm, cream coloured with red work ‘CT 144-1886’ and eleven 105 by 64cm, ivory coloured with red work `CT 144-1886.’ (Qty 33); Overall good condition.
4) A group of hand towels, 19th century, Including seven 67 by 49cm coarse weave diaper plain with red work `CT 144-1886’ and fifteen 68 by 48cm and smaller ivory coloured hand towels (of which one with several rust marks) (Qty 22); Various sizes; Overall good condition.
5) A group of machine woven damask napkins, 20th century, Including six 52 by 52cm, caramel coloured weave with central foliate motif and ribbon banding, five 53 by 51cm, caramel/ rose pink mix with scrolling leaf design, three plain ivory linen curtain panels (of which two 190 by 90cm and one 221 by 93cm), one 53 by 43 cm plain pulled worked edge square panel dressing table, one 37 by 60cm pillow case with blue work ‘PGCS’, twelve small handkerchief and one 188 by 47cm plain pulled work long runner. (Qty 29); Overall good condition.
6) A group of table cloths, 20th century, Including five 20th century white table cloth with repeat pattern fleur de Lys motif, border with a guilloche design and outer border with a red work crowned ‘C 6-05’ (of which one 302 by 224cm, one 312 by 223cm, one 312 by 221cm with tiny dark purple smudges in one edge, one 312 by 224cm with a 3 by 1cm hole at the centre of top left and one 312 by 222cm). (Qty 5); Overall good condition.
7) Another group of table cloths, 19th and 20th century, Including one 315 by 224cm, white damask table cloth main field with scattered polka dots with a trickle banded rope work on the outer border (with a laundry label ‘AE Somervell’ and with a small orange mark on the centre of the top section,) one 462 by 228cm, 19th century white linen damask table cloth with two central floral cartouches incorporating roses and thistles with scattered floral sprays and complementary floral border with thistles, roses and a ‘C’ scroll outer edge, with a red work ‘CT 18-1886,’ one 340 by 171cm, ivory damask table cloth with vertical stripes , scrolling chrysanthemum and a reserve (with little orange marks,) three ivory damask table cloth with ferns and foliate design and ‘C’ scroll and outer border with red work ‘CT 18-1886’ (of which one 458 by 221, cm with one hole, one bowed 460 by 224, cm and one 459 by 225 cm,) one 447 by 224cm, Ivy and fern white table cloth with fern cartouches scattered fern leaves and a deep ivy border with a fern reserve and with red work ‘CT 18-1886,’ one 344 by 197, cm 19th century white armorial table cloth with a central oval reserve incorporating ‘C’ scrolls foliate trails and floral outer borders woven with two crowned cyphers ‘MA anchor’ and four corner shields with rampant lions (with minute holes in one corner and darning in opposite corner on the same edge,) one 312 by 212 cm late 18th to early 19th century ivory damask table cloth with overall scattered pansy sprays and complementary border and flowering pansy plants om each corner (with some rust spots and some holes along one edge and tiny holes on the centre of one end and minor smudges somewhere,) one 298 by 214cm, 19th century white damask table cloth with small motif incorporating fern sprays with complementary border with outer compartments (with a bowed end, a hole in the centre and a black circular stain,) one 273 by 182cm, small white damask table cloth with a central scalloped medallion inclosing flowers with stylised scalloped and ‘C’ scroll outer border and Greek key edges (with five minute holes in one corner,) one 364 by 175cm, white table cloth with art nouveau floral and interlaced scroll border design with red ink stamp in opposing two corners (worn) and one 262 by 222cm, overall small polka dots field with flowering cornflower plant border and narrow strap work outer border with white work crowned ‘C’ (worn on edges.) (Qty 13); Overall good condition.
8) Four modern plain napkin. (Qty 4); Overall good condition.
9) Two small linen tea towels, 20th century (Qty 2); Overall good condition.
10) Eleven white floral napkins with canted squares with roses, 20th century, 54 by 54cm, (Qty 11); Overall good condition.
11) Thirteen napkins with plain field and border with anthemion and acanthus, 20th century, 56 by 52cm, (Qty 13). Overall good condition.
12) Eleven plain pulled work edged napkins with white work, ‘P.S.’, 20th century, 46 by 46cm, (Qty 11); Overall good condition.
13) Sixteen napkins with central lozenge, quatrefoil and foliate design with white work crown and compartmentalised border, late 19th century, 50 by 48cm, (Qty 16); Overall good condition.
14) Eleven cream napkins with acanthus, square frame pattern, foliate reserve & a complementary border, 54 by 52cm, 20th century (woven with ‘pure linen made in Ireland’ in selvedge.) (Qty 11); Overall good condition.
15) Eleven modern machine made linen damask with an Irish coat of arms (harp), with a central cartouche and cartouches in each corner, 49 by 49cm (Qty 11); Overall good condition.
16) Fourteen modern machine made linen plain with banded border (of which eleven 54 by 54cm and three 43 by 40cm) (Qty 14); Overall good condition.
17) Seven plain napkins with banded border and with white work ‘P.S.’, 19th century, 61 by 60cm, (Qty 7). Some with little holes but overall good condition.
18) Seven greyish colour satin damask strapwork napkins with white work, JJ(?).C.9.`24’, late 19th century, 73 by 64cm (Qty 7). Very elegant. Overall good condition.
19) Four modern machine made ivory coloured napkins with floral frame pattern, 42 by 41cm (Qty 4); Overall good condition.
20) Three satin damask napkins with a medallion with fruits and scrolling acanthus border with urns in corner, 20th century, 68 by 61cm (of which one with frayed edge) (Qty 3); Overall good condition.
21) A group of mixed domestic linen, 19th and 20th century, Including one 67 by 64cm, with a scalloped floral medallion including poppies flowering plants and with scalloped edges with white work ‘CES 24’ (with small holes in one corner,) three 50 by 48cm, with scattered flowers and polka dot field and with floral and ribbon border and white work ‘C’, three 59 by 57cm, with a scalloped ribboned reserve and with clover sprays and complementary sprays in corners centred with white work ‘ASC’ in lozenge format (of which one with some amber coloured stains,) one 61 by 55cm, napkin with wheatsheaf and birds and with urns and pineapples in the corners (with small holes,) three 54 by 53cm, satin damask compartmentalised napkins, two 59 by 57cm, plain with scalloped medallion lambrequin corners (with holes,) two with a central banded cartouche and complementary border with foliate motifs (different colours) centred with white work ‘ASC’ in lozenge format in centre, two 41 by 41cm, square feather frame pattern napkins (of which one with a hole and one with stains) and four 78 by 48cm, feather design towels with diaper (of which one with scattered darns and one with darns and holes) (Qty 21); Overall good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
The Linen is in several bundles, listed below. There are approximately 300 pieces of linen. The measurements were taken, but are approximate
1) A group of linen damask geometric napkins with geometric stars repeat pattern edges, striped edges and chequered corners with white work ‘J’ stylised shield in corner, 19th century, including one 64 by 61.5 cm, nine 65 by 65 cm (of which one slightly bowed and with stains in one corner), one 66 by 60 cm, three 63 by 62 cm (of which one slightly bowed and with concave edges), seven 64 by 62 cm (of which one with three yellow stains, one with minor pulls and one slightly misshapen and with a tiny yellow mark), one 64 by 60 cm, two 63 by 63 cm (of which one with slight stains), one 62 by 62 cm, one 65 by 63 cm and one 65 by 61 cm. (Qty 27); Overall good condition;
2) A group of diaper linen hand towels, 19TH century, Including eleven 88 by 54cm with white work crown, diaper field and striped edges (of which one with a black smudge and one with a purple stain in the centre and a smudge), one 93 by 80 cm plain square diaper pattern with red work ‘IXI’, two 95 by 59cm with white work ‘S’ in a cartouche at the top end, rope twist and ‘C’ scroll border, five 97 by 56 cm plain diaper field ornamental strap border, one 105 by 66cm fine weave diapers with red work crowned ‘A.R. 36-23’, one 94 by 58cm plain diaper field scrolling floral trail border, one 88 by 51cm diaper with striped ends, one 94 by 59cm plain diaper with white work ‘S’, a laundry label ‘AE Sommervell’ ( with a darned repair on the top corner), four 100 by 66cm plain diaper with white striped edges (of which two with irregular edges and one with frayed edges on the long ride), five 96 by 61cm diaper with ‘C’ scroll and floral damask edge, top centre with palmette centred with white work cypher ‘SA’ (of which one with a darned repair in palmette and lower edge and another with darned repairs), one 101 by 54cm overall star motifs within linked trellis and a star border (with minor rust marks), one 92 by 72cm fine diaper field with red work crowned ‘C 36-11’, one 99 by 59cm diaper field ‘C’ scroll borders with flowers at the top and a cartouche centred with white work ‘S’ (worn), and one 96 by 55cm plain diaper with Greek key centred by pendant scroll at both ends and with white work crowned ‘C’ (very worn at edges and format is slightly bowed and concave). (Qty 36); Overall good condition.
3) A group of plain diaper hand towels, 19th century, Including thirteen 103 by 67cm, caramel coloured with red work `CT 144-1886’, nine 97 by 67cm, cream coloured with red work ‘CT 144-1886’ and eleven 105 by 64cm, ivory coloured with red work `CT 144-1886.’ (Qty 33); Overall good condition.
4) A group of hand towels, 19th century, Including seven 67 by 49cm coarse weave diaper plain with red work `CT 144-1886’ and fifteen 68 by 48cm and smaller ivory coloured hand towels (of which one with several rust marks) (Qty 22); Various sizes; Overall good condition.
5) A group of machine woven damask napkins, 20th century, Including six 52 by 52cm, caramel coloured weave with central foliate motif and ribbon banding, five 53 by 51cm, caramel/ rose pink mix with scrolling leaf design, three plain ivory linen curtain panels (of which two 190 by 90cm and one 221 by 93cm), one 53 by 43 cm plain pulled worked edge square panel dressing table, one 37 by 60cm pillow case with blue work ‘PGCS’, twelve small handkerchief and one 188 by 47cm plain pulled work long runner. (Qty 29); Overall good condition.
6) A group of table cloths, 20th century, Including five 20th century white table cloth with repeat pattern fleur de Lys motif, border with a guilloche design and outer border with a red work crowned ‘C 6-05’ (of which one 302 by 224cm, one 312 by 223cm, one 312 by 221cm with tiny dark purple smudges in one edge, one 312 by 224cm with a 3 by 1cm hole at the centre of top left and one 312 by 222cm). (Qty 5); Overall good condition.
7) Another group of table cloths, 19th and 20th century, Including one 315 by 224cm, white damask table cloth main field with scattered polka dots with a trickle banded rope work on the outer border (with a laundry label ‘AE Somervell’ and with a small orange mark on the centre of the top section,) one 462 by 228cm, 19th century white linen damask table cloth with two central floral cartouches incorporating roses and thistles with scattered floral sprays and complementary floral border with thistles, roses and a ‘C’ scroll outer edge, with a red work ‘CT 18-1886,’ one 340 by 171cm, ivory damask table cloth with vertical stripes , scrolling chrysanthemum and a reserve (with little orange marks,) three ivory damask table cloth with ferns and foliate design and ‘C’ scroll and outer border with red work ‘CT 18-1886’ (of which one 458 by 221, cm with one hole, one bowed 460 by 224, cm and one 459 by 225 cm,) one 447 by 224cm, Ivy and fern white table cloth with fern cartouches scattered fern leaves and a deep ivy border with a fern reserve and with red work ‘CT 18-1886,’ one 344 by 197, cm 19th century white armorial table cloth with a central oval reserve incorporating ‘C’ scrolls foliate trails and floral outer borders woven with two crowned cyphers ‘MA anchor’ and four corner shields with rampant lions (with minute holes in one corner and darning in opposite corner on the same edge,) one 312 by 212 cm late 18th to early 19th century ivory damask table cloth with overall scattered pansy sprays and complementary border and flowering pansy plants om each corner (with some rust spots and some holes along one edge and tiny holes on the centre of one end and minor smudges somewhere,) one 298 by 214cm, 19th century white damask table cloth with small motif incorporating fern sprays with complementary border with outer compartments (with a bowed end, a hole in the centre and a black circular stain,) one 273 by 182cm, small white damask table cloth with a central scalloped medallion inclosing flowers with stylised scalloped and ‘C’ scroll outer border and Greek key edges (with five minute holes in one corner,) one 364 by 175cm, white table cloth with art nouveau floral and interlaced scroll border design with red ink stamp in opposing two corners (worn) and one 262 by 222cm, overall small polka dots field with flowering cornflower plant border and narrow strap work outer border with white work crowned ‘C’ (worn on edges.) (Qty 13); Overall good condition.
8) Four modern plain napkin. (Qty 4); Overall good condition.
9) Two small linen tea towels, 20th century (Qty 2); Overall good condition.
10) Eleven white floral napkins with canted squares with roses, 20th century, 54 by 54cm, (Qty 11); Overall good condition.
11) Thirteen napkins with plain field and border with anthemion and acanthus, 20th century, 56 by 52cm, (Qty 13). Overall good condition.
12) Eleven plain pulled work edged napkins with white work, ‘P.S.’, 20th century, 46 by 46cm, (Qty 11); Overall good condition.
13) Sixteen napkins with central lozenge, quatrefoil and foliate design with white work crown and compartmentalised border, late 19th century, 50 by 48cm, (Qty 16); Overall good condition.
14) Eleven cream napkins with acanthus, square frame pattern, foliate reserve & a complementary border, 54 by 52cm, 20th century (woven with ‘pure linen made in Ireland’ in selvedge.) (Qty 11); Overall good condition.
15) Eleven modern machine made linen damask with an Irish coat of arms (harp), with a central cartouche and cartouches in each corner, 49 by 49cm (Qty 11); Overall good condition.
16) Fourteen modern machine made linen plain with banded border (of which eleven 54 by 54cm and three 43 by 40cm) (Qty 14); Overall good condition.
17) Seven plain napkins with banded border and with white work ‘P.S.’, 19th century, 61 by 60cm, (Qty 7). Some with little holes but overall good condition.
18) Seven greyish colour satin damask strapwork napkins with white work, JJ(?).C.9.`24’, late 19th century, 73 by 64cm (Qty 7). Very elegant. Overall good condition.
19) Four modern machine made ivory coloured napkins with floral frame pattern, 42 by 41cm (Qty 4); Overall good condition.
20) Three satin damask napkins with a medallion with fruits and scrolling acanthus border with urns in corner, 20th century, 68 by 61cm (of which one with frayed edge) (Qty 3); Overall good condition.
21) A group of mixed domestic linen, 19th and 20th century, Including one 67 by 64cm, with a scalloped floral medallion including poppies flowering plants and with scalloped edges with white work ‘CES 24’ (with small holes in one corner,) three 50 by 48cm, with scattered flowers and polka dot field and with floral and ribbon border and white work ‘C’, three 59 by 57cm, with a scalloped ribboned reserve and with clover sprays and complementary sprays in corners centred with white work ‘ASC’ in lozenge format (of which one with some amber coloured stains,) one 61 by 55cm, napkin with wheatsheaf and birds and with urns and pineapples in the corners (with small holes,) three 54 by 53cm, satin damask compartmentalised napkins, two 59 by 57cm, plain with scalloped medallion lambrequin corners (with holes,) two with a central banded cartouche and complementary border with foliate motifs (different colours) centred with white work ‘ASC’ in lozenge format in centre, two 41 by 41cm, square feather frame pattern napkins (of which one with a hole and one with stains) and four 78 by 48cm, feather design towels with diaper (of which one with scattered darns and one with darns and holes) (Qty 21); Overall good condition.
