Vintage linen grain sack pillows are prized for their French or German lettering
Interior designer Kymberly Frasier has combined her passion for antiques, textiles and design into exquisite grain sack pillows and upholstery. Referred to as “authenticated originals,” the one-of-a-kind European grain sacks are sewn into pillows featuring timeless antique designs and or farmers’ names and dates. Having recently purchased two German grain sack pillows, I can vouch for the craftsmanship. The 100% organic hemp linen is softer than I imagined and they are extremely well made.
Kym takes great care in the restoration and transformation of each well-preserved sack. “It is very rewarding to see things come together and the joy you put in peoples’ eyes when they see things completed.” You can hear her excitement as she shares their unique history. Most of the 100-year-old textiles are woven by hand in a herringbone weave. Many have darns necessitated by years of use holding grain and then ground flour after milling. The darns are viewed as character. Sacks featuring crests, laurel wreaths, crowns and horses can be rare, making those more valuable. A recent addition to the website is a handsome stool [above] made from an antique French lentil sack. Vintage wooden casters and nail-head trim add wonderful detailing and allow the new piece to have an old feel.
Pillows marked with tar-based stencils are washable and since no chemicals were used in the making or marking process, they are an environmentally friendly choice. The pair of pillows [above, my purchase] is extremely uncommon since they are from the same farmer and timeframe. Finding identical sacks usually signal fake, so beware of pillows being passed off as antique. Kym has captured the past and is creating heirlooms that will be treasured by those fortunate enough to own one of her beautiful designs.
(Source: 3 Fine Grains)
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