Handkerchiefs & Roses; The Meaning of Colors

 

This is the first part in a series of posts about beautiful, vintage rose embroidered hankies and printed rose handkerchiefs. We’ll be taking a look at the color of each rose and its symbolism. For example, the ravishing red rose handkerchief, perky pink rose handkerchiefs and luscious lavender rose hankies. Beautifully printed or embroidered roses on handkerchiefs can mean a myriad of different sentiments. Each of the handkerchiefs highlighted in this post, and subsequent posts, are available in my Etsy shop, AllVintateHankies.etsy.com.

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet –William Shakespeare

Let’s begin with this outstanding example of the pink rose bouquet, printed on a large, scalloped handkerchief.

http://www.AllVintageHankies.etsy.com

http://www.AllVintageHankies.etsy.com

It was one of Burmel’s selections for Handkerchief of the Month in Vogue back in the 1950s.

The pink rose is the oldest of all the roses. Pink roses can be found in centuries-old artwork by the masters. This color rose is also associated with the ‘old garden’ variety rose. When you’re driving past an old Victorian home in the spring or summer, take a look at the grounds. Chances are you’ll see gorgeous pink rose bushes that were lovingly planted in the mid 1800s to early 1900s. That is, if they haven’t been plucked out to make way for ‘new’ landscaping.

 

 

If you’re looking for a rose-printed or embroidered handkerchief for yourself or to give as a gift, it’s the perfect choice if you want to convey sentiments of appreciation and gratitude. Pink roses also are meant to show admiration, joyfulness, love, sweetness, grace and elegance.

http://www.AllVintageHankies.etsy.com

 

The light pink rose signifies beauty and grace.

 

 

Delicate and soft, the pink rose hankie is an outstanding choice as a lovely gift to say, ‘I appreciate you’, ‘I admire you,’ ‘I’m grateful to you,’ or simply to say, ‘Thank you.’

http://www.AllVintageHankies.etsy.com

Take a stroll through all of the marvelous examples of pink printed rose hankies and pink embroidered rose handkerchiefs at my shop on Etsy, AllVintageHankies.etsy.com.

 

Next post we’ll take a look at the meaning of the lavender rose print and embroidered hanky.

 

 

 

 

 

History: Antique & Vintage Hankies

A lady NEVER left home without a handkerchief in her handbag ~ that was back in the 1940s and 50s when women would dress in hats, gloves, silk stockings AND high heels just to “go to town!”  We’ve come a long way, baby ~ but, remnants of simpler times remain, case in point, the vintage handkerchief.

Vintage print handkerchief from AllVintageHankies.etsy.com

Gorgeous floral print handkerchiefs, in both soft pastels and vibrant colors, were carried by every lady. They were lovingly cared for by their owners and have managed to escape being tossed away, enabling us to enjoy them today. Thank goodness!

The history of the handkerchief is fascinating ~ and we’ll delve a little into it in my next post. We’re going to travel back to the 17th century for some tremendous facts about antique hankies.

I enjoy ALL handkerchiefs, even the ones with age-worn spots and even the tattered lace hankies, but I especially LOVE hankerchiefs made solely by hand from the 18th century.

Antique Applique Handkerchief from AllVintageHankies.etsy.com

In the example above, the amount of painstaking work that went into making one of these is astounding. Each tiny square was made by forcing the linen fibers apart with a sewing needle, also known as cutwork. The flower and leaf design is the applique work. Small swatches of cloth were cut and then “laid over” the linen handkerchief and stitched into place with hundreds of tiny stitches. The hem was rolled by hand, and again, hundreds of minute stitches hold the hem in place.

We’ll also be taking a look at numerous antique handkerchiefs from my private collection. I purchased them from a museum which was decommissioning an exhibit depicting a woman’s life from the 17th to the 18th centuries. Stay tuned for this one if you love antique handkerchiefs.

AllVintageHankies.etsy.com is an independent shop on Etsy featuring hundreds of antique and vintage handkerchiefs.

Vintage Handkerchiefs & Antique Hankerchiefs

A lady NEVER left home without a handkerchief in her handbag ~ that was back in the 1940s and 50s when women would dress in hats, gloves, silk stockings AND high heels just to “go to town!”  We’ve come a long way, baby ~ but, remnants of simpler times remain, case in point, the vintage handkerchief.

Vintage print handkerchief from AllVintageHankies.etsy.com

Gorgeous floral print handkerchiefs, in both soft pastels and vibrant colors, were carried by every lady. They were lovingly cared for by their owners and have managed to escape being tossed away, enabling us to enjoy them today. Thank goodness!

The history of the handkerchief is fascinating ~ and we’ll delve a little into it in my next post. We’re going to travel back to the 17th century for some tremendous facts about antique hankies.

I enjoy ALL handkerchiefs, even the ones with age-worn spots and even the tattered lace hankies, but I especially LOVE hankerchiefs made solely by hand from the 18th century.

Antique Applique Handkerchief from AllVintageHankies.etsy.com

In the example above, the amount of painstaking work that went into making one of these is astounding. Each tiny square was made by forcing the linen fibers apart with a sewing needle, also known as cutwork. The flower and leaf design is the applique work. Small swatches of cloth were cut and then “laid over” the linen handkerchief and stitched into place with hundreds of tiny stitches. The hem was rolled by hand, and again, hundreds of minute stitches hold the hem in place.

We’ll also be taking a look at numerous antique handkerchiefs from my private collection. I purchased them from a museum which was decommissioning an exhibit depicting a woman’s life from the 17th to the 18th centuries. Stay tuned for this one if you love antique handkerchiefs.

AllVintageHankies.etsy.com is an independent shop on Etsy featuring hundreds of antique and vintage handkerchiefs.