Seminars on Textiles and Vintage Fashion

Toile de Jouy: The story of 19th C France as seen in its textiles

A Talk by Diane Kane (Sunday 2:00 PM)

Like a history book, the toiles, or printed cottons, of Jouy, Nantes, Mulhouse and other places chronicle the great events and daily life of France in this period. From the marriages of kings, the battles of Napoleon, and the story of Jeanne d,arc to the romance of the famous "Art of Love" and the gods of ancient Rome, all is captured in the metal engraving plates and wooden rollers the turn a length of fabric into a history picture book. The famous toiles also depict the lives of the French people, from the miller and his son, to the wine grower and the fisherman.

The talk will include numerous examples of toile fabrics.

Diane Kane started her business, Linge de Berry with a love of vintage linens and textiles. She offers antique linens and textiles for the home, imported mainly from France, where she has a home in Berry in the Loire Valley, she also has linens from Italy and Madeira.s Her linens are sold at antique textile shows and through select antique dealers and other retailers.

Three Centuries of American Samplers, 1620-1920

A Talk by Henry Callan (Sunday 11:30 AM)

Henry Callan will discuss the many varieties, their symbols and inscriptions. His colorful slides will show the changes in style and he will point out how to date samplers without dates. He will give tips on collecting as well as preservation.

Henry Callan buys and sells antiques. He is a member of the New England Appraiser's Association. He holds Master's Degrees in Library Science and History and was Library Director at Milton Academy for ten years. He taught a course on "Antiques" at Cape Cod Community College for fifteen years. He purchased his first antique at the age of twelve. His specialties are Chinese Export and American Samplers.