I am posting this again; several people have asked about it!
These linens are still available today, thanks to websites like Ebay and Etsy!
When I was growing up, my mother loved beautiful linens. Embroidery was her favorite thing.
Her favorite maker was a Portuguese company called “Marghab” from the island of Madeira. They had “separate boutiques” in the top department stores in the United States.
In fact; they were the very first company of any kind to have their products showcased in that way. The company produced linens from 1932 until 1978.
Emile Marghab and his wife, Vera Way Marghab founded the company. The beautiful designs and attention to meticulous detail came from his American wife, Vera. She grew up in South Dakota.
There is a wonderful book, “Perfection Never Less” written about her; and there is a rotating museum exhibition and more information at the University of South Dakota.
Hers is a fascinating story!
Here is a quotation from “Cynthia’s Linen Room” online.
“Marghab is considered to be some of the finest hand embroidery in the world. The company was founded on the Island of Madeira, Portugal, in 1933, by the husband and wife team of Emile and Vera Way Marghab. Only the finest linen from Ireland and Switzerland were used. Working with Swiss weavers, the Marghabs created a special material that Vera described as “clear, crisp, true and easy to launder”.
This fabric was woven exclusively for the Marghabs. They called it Margandie and it gave them a distinctiveness that was associated only with Marghab linens. The embroidery threads were from France and many of the colors used were exclusively produced for a particular design. When the linens were ready for embroidery, they were brought from the factory to the countryside homes of skilled embroideresses who were paid by the stitch! Some pieces could contain as many as eighty-five thousand stitches and could take embroideresses months to complete. It was said that more than eighty percent of the female population on the island was employed in embroidery and girls learned the art from their mothers at a very early age. There were close to three hundred pattern designs and each of them was named. The linens were sold only in Madeira or to exclusive salons selected by the Marghabs for their reputation for excellence and quality. Among these were George Jensen.
In New York, Constance Leiter in Kansas City and David Jones, Ltd. in Australia. After Emile’s death in 1947, Vera Way Marghab continued with the business until 1980 and demanded nothing but “perfection” from the factory work, the embroideresses and the salons they were sold in. She died in 1995 at the age of ninety-five.
Imagine being paid “by the stitch” and the amount of time it took to embroider one cocktail napkin!! Not to mention a tablecloth and napkins!
The quality of the linens was unmatched. Linens especially made in Ireland were used, threads from France and England,
and the Swiss produced the exquisite almost sheer “Margandie” which was exclusive to the company.
The island of Madeira was the source of the best embroidery in the world.
And Marghab was the best of the best.
They made tablecloths, placemats, guest towels, in beautiful and imaginative patterns.
I started collecting “cocktail” napkins when I received 4 for a wedding present!
Thanks to ebay, I now have over a hundred! Most of them came in the original boxes,unused!!
People were “saving them” Oh Dear!!
So they showed up in their estate sales!
Don’t save things!!!
This design on “Margandie” the pattern is “Varishka”
This delightful bird cage design is a guest towel.
This shows the tiny stitches used. Women would teach their daughters at an early age.
Here is a guest towel. HINT!!! If people won’t use your guest towels; just crinkle one! And then they will!!!
These hand towels also show fine stitches.
Varishka in another color
tropical fish cocktail napkin.
This sailboat is a favorite!
My “knight in shining armor”!
This grape motif is on “Margandie”
This shows the difference between the Swiss “Margandie” and the Irish linen.
This was one of the four I received for a wedding present in 1969!
If carefully hand washed, and pressed upside-down on a terrycloth towel; these linens can last a lifetime!
“under the sea”
This is how the ladies of the island would carry their flowers!
This mallard is the kind of duck we have in our pond!
I love this weather vane!
Which do you think is the front? The top or the bottom of this napkin?
I think this really illustrates the incredible fineness of the stitching!
I use these every time we entertain! And my family and caterers all know to check the wastebaskets!
People throw the guest towels in the wastebaskets, and the cocktail napkins, too!
And at least a dozen times, I have received one back in the mail because a husband has put it in his pocket!
I can’t tell you the pleasure I get from using these lovely creations, so beautifully made by hand!
There are so many of the small luxuries lost to “convenience”!
In case someone is interested, I received a note from the woman I quoted, “Cynthia’s Linens” who is now selling Marghab and other fine linens as “Christine Hamm and I sell vintage linens on Etsy. vintagelinens.etsy.com“
34 Responses
What an interesting collection! We love to hear about craftsmanship (craftsWOmanship) from bygone eras. Trades that employed huge parts of the population are almost completely extinct in our modern world. Collectors like you keep their stories alive. Thank you!
Isn’t that the truth! Thank you!
I just found a beautiful set of napkins, placemats and a runner at an antique show; I am giving to my daughter for Christmas! lucky she doesn’t read this blog!!
What an interesting collection! We love to hear about craftsmanship (craftsWOmanship) from bygone eras. Trades that employed huge parts of the population are almost completely extinct in our modern world. Collectors like you keep their stories alive. Thank you!
Isn’t that the truth! Thank you!
I just found a beautiful set of napkins, placemats and a runner at an antique show; I am giving to my daughter for Christmas! lucky she doesn’t read this blog!!
You know, I’ve been itching to learn to do this sort of embroidery. This lovely post is just the nudge I need! Beautiful!!
xo,
p
You know, I’ve been itching to learn to do this sort of embroidery. This lovely post is just the nudge I need! Beautiful!!
xo,
p
via email!
Dear Penny,
Loved reading about tre Margab linens. I have a dozen handtowels from my mother, some Margab and some with the beautiful handsewn
monogram. They are indeed special and from an era which is fast disappearing. Glad you are educating people through your blog!
Hugs, Robin
via email!
Dear Penny,
Loved reading about tre Margab linens. I have a dozen handtowels from my mother, some Margab and some with the beautiful handsewn
monogram. They are indeed special and from an era which is fast disappearing. Glad you are educating people through your blog!
Hugs, Robin
Well, thanks for the lesson!I have a few of these that were my mother’s!I CANNOT BELIEVE(yes, I can ) that people toss in the waste paper basket!WHAT IS WRONG WITH TODAY’s PEOPLE!I think I have some rooster cocktail napkins at the shop……..I will look today to see if they are of this breed!Shall I text YOU if so and send a photo!
HAPPY JUNE FIRST!
Well, thanks for the lesson!I have a few of these that were my mother’s!I CANNOT BELIEVE(yes, I can ) that people toss in the waste paper basket!WHAT IS WRONG WITH TODAY’s PEOPLE!I think I have some rooster cocktail napkins at the shop……..I will look today to see if they are of this breed!Shall I text YOU if so and send a photo!
HAPPY JUNE FIRST!
One of my favorite things is antique linens from my grandmother with their exquisite hand embroidery. Love learning the history of this company and their lovely work.
One of my favorite things is antique linens from my grandmother with their exquisite hand embroidery. Love learning the history of this company and their lovely work.
The tropical fish cocktail napkin style and design is my favorite! This inspire me to do embroidery craft.
The tropical fish cocktail napkin style and design is my favorite! This inspire me to do embroidery craft.
LOVE! LOVE!LOVE the Chinoserie!!!
Such happiness they bring…incredible artist!
What a discovery & share!
LOVE! LOVE!LOVE the Chinoserie!!!
Such happiness they bring…incredible artist!
What a discovery & share!
Hi there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my facebook group? There’s quite a bit of those that I consider would really appreciate your content material. Please let me know. Thanks
Yes, Please do! Go right ahead!! I am hoping it will improve soon!!
Hi there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my facebook group? There’s quite a bit of those that I consider would really appreciate your content material. Please let me know. Thanks
Yes, Please do! Go right ahead!! I am hoping it will improve soon!!
I don’t know if it’s just me or if everyone else experiencing problems with your site.
It appears as though some of the text in your content are running off the
screen. Can someone else please comment and let me know if this
is happening to them as well? This could be a problem with my browser because I’ve had this happen before.
Thank you
my blog post – yelp.com; Mariana,
It is a problem with my site…..and I am seeking help!!
So sorry! And thank you for visiting!!!
I don’t know if it’s just me or if everyone else experiencing problems with your site.
It appears as though some of the text in your content are running off the
screen. Can someone else please comment and let me know if this
is happening to them as well? This could be a problem with my browser because I’ve had this happen before.
Thank you
my blog post – yelp.com; Mariana,
It is a problem with my site…..and I am seeking help!!
So sorry! And thank you for visiting!!!
I just want to tell you that I am new to blogging and site-building and certainly liked this page. More than likely I’m want to bookmark your website . You absolutely come with outstanding articles and reviews. Thanks a lot for sharing your website page.
This is really interesting, You are a very skilled blogger.
I have joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of
your magnificent post. Also, I’ve shared your
website in my social networks!
My website; google plus application
Do you mind if I quote a few of your articles as long as I provide credit and sources back to your blog?
My blog site is in the very same area of interest as yours and my users would truly
benefit from some of the information you provide here.
Please let me know if this okay with you. Thank you!
My webpage google adwords
Yes you may!
I stumbled across your Marghab blog today and you quoted “Cynthia’s Linen Room”. That was My quote that I posted way back in 2009 with the old Vintage Village site on Ning and I also shared it with a private website known as the Vintage Tablecloth Lovers’ Club. I also posted it on June 9, 2009 on My own blog, TessasTreasuresandVintageLinens.blogspot.com If you’d like to give accurate credit, my name is Christine Hamm and I sell vintage linens on Etsy. vintagelinens.etsy.com
I am happy to!
Penelope Bianchi
I adore these and I am always on the prowl for them!
Cheers
JA ????
How do you clean your “Margandie” items safely? I have a Marghab placemat set and I am afraid to wash them and lose the color.
Thank you!
HI! Lucky you! Wash by hand with cold water….lay flat. They are far more resilient than you would imagine. They are colorfast as long as you use cold water and very mild soap. Dry flat. Iron on top of a terry towel; embroidery facing down! And use them every chance you get! You are lucky! They are a treasure! Most of the ones I have collected have been kept in the original box…..and never used!
Enjoy them every chance you get! They are not fragile!
Thank you for contacting me!
Penelope
Great idea to create unique design in the clothes.