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Collecting Vintage Valentine's Day and Heart Ladies Handkerchiefs Hankies
- By: Luanne Reilly Oda
I love all kinds of vintage linens and handkerchiefs, but I am unable to collect all I like. Since I like hearts better than anything I was drawn to collect pretty Valentines Hankies. Handkerchiefs are still an affordable collectible, and they do not take up an awful lot of room!
History of Valentine’s Day Hankies
Before the advent of what we today know as Valemtine cards, lace handkerchiefs were often given as a token of your love. It has been told that in Medievel times that the knights going off to battle would carry with them a hankie given to them by the woman they loved.
Sailors on voyages to distant foreign lands would send home to their loved ones pretty silk squares or handkerchiefs emroidered with hearts, love knots and cupids. Their special lady would often use these as a small purse and they became known as bundle Valentines.
Lace has long been associated with Valentines Day as the hankies often had lace trim. In Victorian times a lady would draw her handkerchief across her cheek to say I love you. Twisting her hankie in her right hand signified that she loved another. Holding the hankie over her shoulder or dropping it in the path meant follow me.
In your seach you will find:
Printed Valentine hankies, many just in red and white, others more colorful, with a variety of hearts, cupids, angels, romantic couples, children, animals, and even hidden messages.
A variety of embroidered styles, I am partial to the little cupids, and of course lace hankies, often used for the wedding day.
If you are lucky you might find a designer hankies. Some of the designers that made hankies in the 1950’s and 1960’s were
Tammis Keefe
Pat Prichard
Jeanne Miller
Frederique
Brigitta Ajnefors
Carl Tait
Lori King
Monique
Faith Austin
Kit Ann
Jean Sibo
Ann McGann
Although the valentine handkerchiefs are especially nice to have in February, they will make a romantic display anytime of the year. Enjoy your collecting!
I love all kinds of vintage linens and handkerchiefs, but I am unable to collect all I like. Since I like hearts better than anything I was drawn to collect pretty Valentines Hankies. Handkerchiefs are still an affordable collectible, and they do not take up an awful lot of room!
http://www.nanaluluslinensandhandkerchiefs.com/index.cfm/fa/categories.main/parentcat/20584
http://www.nanaluluslinensandhandkerchiefs.com/index.cfm/fa/subcategories.main/parentcat/19424/subcatid/44962
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