This is a serie of 9 rather rare slik and linen napkins with initials S.C. In all the years I have touched, cherished and loved French Antique linen I cannot remember a time I have had the privilege of owning these magnificent pieces. The Provenance is ,that purely by accident, I passed a Chateau recently and noticed a sign "Vide de Grenier", ( emptying of the loft ). It was hardly the foregoing and I have been able to acquire some wonderful linen. And what was surprising that none of the other people present were in the slightest interested ! In the 19th and early 20th Century one could buy the letters from a haberdashery shop. You could then secure and baste the letters on your bed or table linen. After that you embroidered with white or red yarn over the letters and it appeared that it looked entirely hand embroidered. I very much doubt though that this is the case with the serviettes, as every napkin, if you compare them together, each embroidery is just little different and that makes them so deliciously superb. Thus my belief is that they were hand embroidered. Each initial is entwined with a small posy of flowers and leaves. Each letter has been outlined twice prior to embroidery ,solid at the top in high relief and open at the bottom and filled in with small button embroidery. The initials are sitting in a rectangular frame of a Greek Key design. The perimeter has the typical French "damien" design ( Chessboard design) which was so popular in the late XIX the Century as little else was available prior to the introduction of superb country and hunting scenes in Damask. Finally we have taken sufficient photographic documentation , so enjoy admiring the napkins. PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING; Due to the high tariffs imposed by the U.S.A. the French Post office and transport companies are not accepting parcels for the U.S.A. for the time being. #FestiveClassics