antique vintage 1800s homespun handwoven flax linen fabric, hand-written tag

Here's a very interesting old find, a piece of very old woven linen shirting, from a estate here in Wisconsin. This fabric has a note hand written (in ink) attached, recording the origins of this cloth, probably written down during the mid to late 1960s, at our best guess. The fabric was stated at being over 150 years old at that time, which would make this around 200 years old today!

We can hardly believe that this fabric could have lasted so long, it's truly a wonder, being passed from hand to hand over succeeding generations, always carefully stored. (This was in a cedar chest for many years.) There's no question that this is the oldest fabric we've ever handled, but the condition is better than many fabrics we find only 50-80 years old.

This piece measures 12" x 19", edges hemmed, strong and supple without holes, just a few spots, discoloration not bad at all. We feel this ought to go on to a historian or fabric specialist to be preserved for further generations, a nice example of handmade early American fabric. We love old fabrics, but think this piece is too nice for our own private collection!