The Book of Fine Linen invites us to enter the elegant world of heirloom household fabrics, their use and manufacture, their embellishment and care. Making extensive use of household inventories, diairies, and colorful details and anecdotes describing domestic arrangements, the author has examined centuries of textile history, from Ancient Egypt to the present day. She discusses the origins and symbolism of the trousseau; traditions of caring for linens; and methods of growing and weaving natural fabrics such as cotton, linen, and silk. Fabulous embroidery techniques and designs from Europe and America are also superbly illustrated and carefully explained.

A fascinating text is supplemented by a rich array of visual material drawn from archival photographs, vintage advertisements, old department store catalogues, and splendid paintings, as well as original photography of extraordinary textile collections, private homes, and the workshops of great contemporary manufacturers. Complete with a comprehensive glossary of technical terms, The Book of Fine Linen will