Happy Festivities

I hope all of you had a wonderful diwali. Thank you for all your wishes and a special thank you for being a part of my blogging journey. I have vowed to be more frequent with my posts and do my best in terms of researching about vintage, old and new in the world of home and design. 

Here is to a wonderful year and for the best of what ever is remaining of 2010 :-)

I take this opportunity to thank each one of you who stops by the design enthusiast and shares their idea via comments and suggestions. Lots of love!! 

Friday Finds - Linen Press

This week's Friday find is a very functional antique furniture piece which was a staple in affluent home in the mid 1800s.

source: amazon

Oh no, I am not talking about an ironing board. :-). What I was to showcase is called a Linen Press. Probably a predecessor to our ironing boards and the steam iron :-)

Linen Press seem to have been a popular utility furniture item in the 19th century. I first saw this piece in a local furniture museum and researched more on the origins and the use of such well made piece of furniture. It looked more like a printer/binding press (I was almost right in guessing its purpose). It turned out that households in the 1800 and early 1900's used them keep their folded linen creases free. Amazing isnt it :-)

source: galenfrysinger(com) 

This is how it must have looked in a room set up

source:oldandinteresting(com)

A little history...

"LINEN PRESS. Poland, Gdańsk, c. 1700. Table-linen presses are of particular importance as examples of Gdańsk richly decorated functional furniture. They are in the form of a table on which the main part – the press – is placed. It is regulated by a large screw, framed by spiral columns. The sculpted figures at the top are personifications of Faith and Hope." source:wawel.krakow.pl

This is a miniature on display courtesy krugercollection

Little more info...
LINEN-PRESS, a contrivance, usually of oak, for pressing sheets, table-napkins and other linen articles, resembling a modern office copying-press. Linen presses were made chiefly in the 17th and 18th centuries, and are now chiefly interesting as curiosities of antique furniture. Usually quite plain, they were occasionally carved with characteristic Jacobean designs. source: 1911encyclopedia

Another piece of furniture which a namesake: a simple Armoire or a cupboard. While reasearching about the linen press I came to know that a simple cupboard was also called a Linen Press.


Quoting wiki

Traditionally, a linen-press (or just press) is a cabinet, usually of woods such as oak, walnut, or mahogany, and designed for storing sheets, table-napkins, clothing, and other textiles. Such Linen-presses were made chiefly in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries and are now considered decorative examples of antique furniture. Early versions were often quite plain, with some exhibiting carving characteristic of Jacobean designs. Examples made during the 18th and 19th centuries often featured expensive veneers and intricate inlays, and were designed to occupy prominent places in early bedrooms as storage closets for clothing.

In modern houses, a linen press is often a built-in cabinet near bedroom or bathroom, for easy access to fresh bed sheets and towels. Analogous terms are laundry cupboard or linen cupboard. In Ireland the term hot press describes an airing cupboard used for storing linen.

source: woodcraft (com)

I recommend this article on Linen Press in the Old and Interesting repository. There is a lot more for you to explore on this site...Do take a look. 

Probable use of a linen press found via an Illustration

note the perfect crease/folds on the table cloth: source: expositions.bnf.fr

Hope you found the find interesting!! :-)

Votes Please

It feels nice to see a popular fellow blogger being featured by another very popular Home Design Blog- Apartment therapy. (YAY!!!). AT has been running a series /contest called- Room for Colo(u)r Contest and readers votes decide the winner(s). (US and International)


Kamini, who blogs @ Safforn and Silk has her Saffron Sanctuary Bedroom among other international entries. Your vote could help her win. So please take time out and and cast your vote for her entry

More on Kamini...
Kamini is a wonderful artist and an accomplished interior designer. Wanna know more about her..I recommend you read Divya's post - Artist Profile - Kamini on Sound Horn Please and Kamini's home tours on Gagan's blog>of Peacocks and paisleys and on Priya's OUATT

Coming back to the contest....

Link:>>Contest

(pic courtesy Apartment therapy)

And this is how you vote!....
All you need to do is visit Apartment therapy's page with Kamini's entry and cast your vote. It would be nice to see a blogger from Mana Hyderabad to win under International Category :-)..(Dont mind me stressing the hyderabadi aspect, Once a Hyderabadi always a Hyderabadi u c....lol)

Whats in it for you?!!
I will be happy to see a professional Interior designer's Hyderabadi home win the contest.(I know you love to see me happy!!)...and then, if you dint know AT already, I have opened a window to one of the most beautiful spaces in the Cyberworld.

So rush and do your thing!!


PS: you have to register (for free) to vote...it only takes a minute...(hardly!!)...so rush and vote