Hemp or Chanvre in French is a plant in the botanical class of cannabis sativa cultivars grown specifically for industrial use. It can be used to make a wide range of products. It was also one of the first plants to be spun into usable fibre 50.000 years ago. It can be refined into a variety of commercial uses including rope , textiles clothing etc. In France Hemp or Hennep has been very popular since the 18th Century and maybe even before because of its enormous strength. characters. These 7 tea towels, as far as I can make out ,date from the middle to the end of the 19th Century and have been very little use or maybe even never as they appear like new / old. The large initials S.F. have been hand embroidered and there are 2 vertical red lines. The dimensions of 94cm long is exceptional. They should( almost house) in a local museum.