Innehållsförteckning för Monograms 2013 från Victoria

I first became aware of monograms when I was a teenager and every girl in my group of friends wanted a certain “status” purse. Crafted of lovely leather, the bag featured a medallion to be embossed with three initials. At Christmas that year, my parents gave me the simple but costly purse in navy, complete with personalization. In the center of the attached leather ornament was a large N, with a P and an F on either side. I was thrilled, and I carried the bag with great pride for many years. A monogrammed gift says “I planned ahead for your special event,” and this piece was certainly the highlight of my holiday. Today, my jewelry box contains several pieces that are precious to me because they are engraved with…

Whether an impression left on the red sealing wax of a royal edict, the concrete footprints in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, or even the inflated bubble letters that wallpaper trains, overpasses, and tunnels in the form of modern-day graffiti, humans have for centuries yearned to leave a personal mark in the sands of time. In fact, some of the very first recorded monograms date back to the ancient Greeks, who etched walls and pottery vessels with grapheion—the classical Greek term for written letters. During the Middle Ages in Europe, before the printing press would democratize reading and writing, most adults, including many kings, queens, and overlords, were illiterate. The royal courts, however, were generally populated with those who could read and write, as well as render elegantly. Thus, it…

TThe DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum in Colonial Williamsburg offers glimpses of Virginia’s earliest settlers through acquisitions such as a set of antique English silver salvers, below, and a silver coffee and tea set, opposite. The salvers were part of a silver cache belonging to North Carolina merchant Josiah Granberry and his wife, Christian. London silversmith Ebenezer Coker crafted the two smallest salvers circa 1766 and the largest salver in approximately 1769. John Carter, also a London silversmith, made the largest salver circa 1769. Remarkably similar despite their different makers, all four ornately rimmed plates bear the engraved cipher JCG. Viewing the salvers, one can almost feel the heightened sense of apprehension that pervaded this settlement on April 18, 1775. News of an impending British invasion spread quickly through the…

“The dressing room of every well-bred woman should be both elegant and comfortable in proportion to her fortune and position,” counsels Baroness Blanche Staffe in her 1893 etiquette manual, The Ladies Dressing Room (Dodo Press). “It may be simply comfortable if its owner cannot make it luxurious, but must be provided everything necessary for a careful toilette.” In Victorian times, the central element of a woman’s personal space was her dressing table, appointed with a glittering assortment of tools and products she used for beautification. An intimate retreat reserved exclusively for the lady of the house, it bore the marks of her personality. The baroness encourages, “Everything placed upon it—brushes, combs, boxes, scent-bottles, etc.—should be chosen with artistic taste.” The vanity set, pictured left and opposite, presents a splendid example…

MMy affinity for personalization began in my early teen years, when the most sought-after accessory among my girlfriends was a certain brand of leather purse. Although I longed to own the status item, it was not possible on the spending money I earned babysitting and playing piano at church. I received the coveted bag, complete with my initials, as a Christmas gift from my parents that year, and my enchantment with monograms ensued. As a young woman refining my personal tastes, I took note of renowned insignias of the fashion industry: the entwining Cs of the House of Chanel, the interlocking LV made famous by Louis Vuitton, and the legendary Gs of Gucci. Customers and collectors alike prize these iconic symbols highly. Entire businesses have been built around the monograms…

FFor centuries, tradition decreed that daughters accumulate a trousseau—the word derived from a French term meaning “to bundle.” Early in her life, a girl was gifted a linen press for storing household textiles she made or collected during her youth. Set aside for her future marriage, a classic trousseau contained all the soft necessities a proper lady needed to set up housekeeping. In the fourteenth century, the utilitarian trousseau included a modest collection of household linens and clothing. But by the nineteenth century, the concept had grown to encompass an impressive abundance of linens, their fine quality and intricate adornments a mark of social standing for the wealthiest Victorian families. The rise of popular fashion during this era tempted women to update their wardrobes frequently, so by the twentieth century,…

COVER LC Anna Bove Embroidery Caroline Machine Embroidery Font, $29.90; annaboveembroidery.com. KHE Anna Bove Embroidery Belle Epoque Machine Embroidery Font, $29.90; annaboveembroidery.com. D Martha Pullen Company, Inc., Vintage Royal Alphabet, $69 for 2013 Internet Embroidery Club; 800-547-4176, embroidery.marthapullen.com. PERSONALLY YOURS Pages 57–58: LTC Anna Bove Embroidery Caroline Machine Embroidery Font, $29.90; annaboveembroidery.com. LTL Standard Block Font comes preprogrammed with Baby Lock Ellisimo embroidery machine. Pages 59–60: Acorn and Oak Leaves embroidery work around D and PDN can be found under “Web Extras” from issue 138 on the Sew Beautiful magazine website, sewbeautifulmag.com. Page 71: D Anna Bove Victorian Whitework Font for 5x7" hoops, $34.70; annaboveembroidery.com. LTL Standard Block Font comes preprogrammed with Baby Lock Ellisimo embroidery machine. Acorn and Oak Leaves embroidery work around PDN can be found under “Web Extras” from…

PHOTOGRAPHY ROBIN MOLBERT: pages 9–26 JOHNNY CHAUVIN PHOTOGRAPHY: pages 81–83, 985-429-8588, chauvinphotography.com COVER Custom gift tags, call for pricing; Allison R. Banks Designs, 205-807-4670, allisonrbanksdesigns.com. Pages 3–4: Lenox Lace Point 5-piece Place Setting, $139.95; from Replacements, Ltd., 800-737-5223, replacements.com. TIMELESS LEGACY Pages 9–26: To see more of Robin Molbert’s linens, visit her online shop at fleurdandeol.com, or contact her at 646-291-8900, info@fleurdandeol.com. Custom services also available to create bespoke duvet covers from antique linen sheets. Pages 27–30: For more information on the Vanderbilt monograms, contact Biltmore, 800-411-3812, biltmore.com. Pages 31–32: Pieces are from the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, 757-220-7693, history.org, colonialwilliamsburg.com. WROUGHT BY HAND Pages 33–36: For more information about the linens pictured or to purchase, contact CaroLinens, carolinens.com. Pages 37–40: For more information about the items pictured or…

TThe trousseau, or dowry, can be traced all the way back to the Roman Empire. It was the bride’s counterpart to the propter nuptias, which in Roman law was the donation required of the groom’s family to ensure a solid foundation for the newly married couple. It could include money, livestock, real estate, furniture, and basically anything else of value they could afford to give. In turn, the bride arrived with a dot—her family’s offering of household linens, clothing, and other valuables. The French word trousseau derives from the verb trousser, which means “to wrap up in a package.” The size of this marital parcel was generally commensurate with the wealth of the family. Interestingly, the Christmas stocking has its origins here as well. According to legend, Saint Nicholas tossed…

When Carolyn Gallier, of Mechanicsville, Virginia, stepped out of the classroom in search of a new future, little did she know she would find her greatest joy by peering into the past. “I walked into a recently opened antiques mall,” the retired schoolteacher remembers. “My heart started racing, and my palms started sweating. I knew this was it—this was what I needed to be doing.” Carolyn had dabbled at selling antiques during her teaching days, but while standing in that mall, her new career path became evident. “I wasn’t sure exactly how I would do it,” she says with a laugh, “but I knew something old was calling my name.” A matelassé baby quilt discovered during a day of antiquing with a friend inspired her passion for vintage linens. Long…

BBorn into a family of artists and craftsmen, Birmingham, Alabama, native Allison R. Banks felt the pull toward creative pursuits early on. At 15, she took a part-time job with Bob Rosser, a well-known engraver and friend of the family. The teenager answered phones during the Christmas rush but sketched during her downtime. Rosser took note of Allison’s talent and became her mentor. Although her parents and Rosser saw a potential career in calligraphy for her, Allison initially resisted: “I will never do this full time.” She embarked on a decadelong career in publishing but could not quell a lingering desire to create objects of permanence. She remembers, “I didn’t always feel like what I was doing would stick around for fifty years. There was something in me that wanted…

ENJOY YOUR LINENS. Frequent use extends the life of fabrics, so don’t keep fine sheets and favorite table linens in reserve for fear that service will diminish their quality. Stashing linens in cupboards indefinitely allows fold lines to create stress on the fibers and promotes dry rot. Most textiles actually fare better when used and laundered regularly, so let them breathe, and appreciate their beauty. TREAT STAINS PROMPTLY. A gracious hostess need not fret when spills soil her table linens. Without a lapse in conversation, she can quickly dab the stain with a cold, wet cloth; rub a sprinkling of table salt over the spot; and cover the blemish with a napkin to avoid additional disturbance to the meal. After a dinner party, soak all table linens in an ice-water…

TTablecloths and napkins are largely taken for granted today—almost as much as forks and spoons. However, eating habits were not always quite so civilized, and these accoutrements have not always been the norm. There is, in fact, strong evidence that up until the late sixteenth century, neither napkins nor forks were used much (if at all) in Europe. Fortunately, all of this began to change when Catherine de Médicis arrived in Marseille from her native Florence, soon to marry Henry II and then later to assume the French throne as queen. Catherine, legendary for her conciliatory politics and her fertile, open mind, also loved nothing more than to throw extravagant balls and sumptuous banquets. A proponent of social propriety, this well-mannered queen was responsible for introducing the napkin and the…

Constructed at the height of the Gilded Age, Biltmore estate represents one of the greatest undertakings in the history of American architecture. George W. Vanderbilt, the third son of railroad magnate William Henry Vanderbilt, visited North Carolina frequently with his mother during the 1880s. Smitten with Asheville’s majestic scenery and temperate climate, the wealthy heir purchased 125,000 acres and commissioned famed New York City architect Richard Morris Hunt to build a “little mountain escape.” Hunt designed the opulent summer home in the style of working estates in Europe. Inspired by France’s Les Châteaux de la Loire, Biltmore is the largest private residence in the United States. The sprawling 4-acre, 250-room mansion took more than six years to complete. Both the interior and the exterior bear the fingerprints of George and…

“I’ve often said, ‘If the linen could speak, it would tell us where it was made, who spun it, and in what mill in Ireland it was produced,’ ” says Sandy Patterson, proprietress of High Cotton, Ltd., in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. “Since it can’t talk, we look for the clues.” Sandy fills her shop with fine estate linens, crystal, silver, china, and glassware dating from 1880 to 1940. As visitors enter the store, they often sigh with appreciation as they take in the nostalgic ambience. Bedroom and living-room vignettes throughout the 2,000-square-foot space invite guests to linger. “A lot of customers say, ‘This reminds me of my grandmother’s home,’ ” she adds. In a city known for antiques, High Cotton is a muststop destination for textile lovers. With a practiced…

GGrowing up in a military family that moved frequently, the constant for P.J. Bass McAleer was gathering around the dinner table together. “It felt like we were home when the barrels of china, crystal, and silver arrived at the new base,” she remembers. “One of my favorite childhood memories is of standing at the kitchen sink, slowly hand washing and rinsing silver, crystal, and china and admiring the beauty of each piece.” In 1981, the escalating price of silver bullion inspired P.J. to open The Silver Market in Fairhope, Alabama, in an effort to protect precious heirlooms from being sold and melted down. She relocated the store to its current setting in 1995, a charming 1,800-square-foot cottage surrounded by lush palmettos, a Chinese fan palm, native plants, and a garden…