Vintage & antique textiles
Dealer Liz van Hasselt, who sells at fairs up and down the country, has these helpful tips for when you’re buying vintage and antique textiles...
Printed Cottons or Linens
Holding the fabric up to the light is a good way to ensure there are no thin or worn areas. Many printed textiles from the early to mid 20th century have problems with the red-dyed areas, which are susceptible to rotting. If buying a long length – unused vintage dress fabric from the 1930s or 40s, for example – do check the whole length as these were often folded and stored, so may have lines of fading.
Tapestry or Woollen Pictures
These can be prone to moth damage, so close inspection is vital. Pictures under glass are harder to examine so, if you are able, tap the glass gently to reveal loose, moving fragments of thread, which indicate insect damage.
Quilts
They are very popular at the moment and, once again, close inspection is necessary. Look for torn areas of the quilt and loose stitching revealing wadding. It is also a good idea to smell old quilts, as they can be tricky to clean, especially if they have been stored away for years.
Linen Sheets
Linen sheets from France are a cheap and plentiful source of the material for light upholstery projects, but beware if they are presented folded and ironed. Inspect the fabric fully as it can be very worn in the centre. Consider the country of origin and likely age, too, asking the dealer where the items were sourced and their opinion of the age.
Where to Buy Antique Textiles
The IACF fairs at Newark, Ardingly and Shepton Mallet are all good hunting grounds for textiles. Liz sells in a marquee, The Textile Tent, at Newark and Ardingly. The Textile Society holds two fairs a year, in Manchester in April (see page 125) and the London Antique & Vintage Textile Fair in October. You’ll find textiles at The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair in Battersea, held three times a year (see right for more), at the London Antique Textiles & Tribal Art Fair (pa-antiques. co.uk) in June and at the West Country Fabric and Textiles Weekend (thewasherwoman.blogspot.com) in Somerset in March.