Embroidered Mangle Board Cover

Lovely old cross stitch embroidered mangle board holder . This piece is from the Kalotaszeg region of Transylvania. Faded red cross stitch on hemp, this piece dates from the 19th century. In the days before irons and metal mangles wooden mangle boards were used to flatten linen.  These wooden mangles were usually handcarved  by young men, sometimes as gifts for their bride to be, they often had intricate carved designs and have become collectors items in their own right.  There is more information on the history of the mangle board here

Apafi Manor, Malancrav, Transylvania

This is the first of a few posts focussed on  Transylvania.

Transylvania has a rich folk cultural heritage and  was where my interest in textiles was triggered.  I first travellled to Transylvania in 2007, my  friend Peter Strickland was making a film. We stayed in a traditional village house surrounded by hills and ancient forests. It was  insight into rural life in Transylvania which has held  a  fascination for me ever since. The combination of  dramatic countryside, medieval villages, cultural heritage ( including of course  the textile heritage) and  the simplicity of everyday life makes Transylvania perfect place for retreat from the noise of the city dwelling. You can get an idea of the natural beauty from the trailer of Katalin Varga here

At the end of May I travelled from Budapest to Transylvania. First stop was Sibiu and then
Malancrav, a Saxon village in the heart of Transylvania. There are a number of Saxon villages in this area, they are well  know for their fortified churches.  The Saxon villages in Romania have had a dwindling population since WW2 but particularly since 1989, 90% of the population left, most returning to Germany. Many of these villages were left almost desolate with buildings declining into a  terrible state.

The images above are of and from Apafi Manor in Malancrav.  The manor was bought by Prince Charles and was painstakingly  restored by the  Mihai Eminescu Trust (MET). You can read more about it here. Its available to rent via the MET as are a number of beautifully restored village houses.

A word of caution; the MET are very good at restoring houses but  I wouldn't recommend staying in one of their village  houses.There was a lack of information, for example, we know there was a weaving house but we couldn't find it, no walking maps in English etc, no local produce available. The MET are missing a trick here, there is so much more they could do to make this a better experience.  There are much better places to stay to gain an insight into village life in Transylvania. Here are two of them;

Valea Verde/ has the option of staying in a village house. Jonas is knowledgeable  and  passionate about the village and its people.

Count Kalnoky Estate

The Textile Society's Antique Textile Fair

This coming Sunday at Chelsea Town Hall, this is the second London fair organised by the Textile Society. With a host of dealers dealing in beautiful and exotic antique textiles from near and far it promises to be a wonderful event. We will have a selections of Hungarian and Romanian linen including Hungarian grain sacks, Vintage linen cushions and embroidery.

Textile Fair at Petworth House

Petworth House is a magnificent House and Park in West Sussex. Petworth House Costume & Textiles Fair will be a visual and sensual extravaganza. Textiles, costumes, demonstrators, artists and designers are all being brought together to provide a memorable experience. Renowned dealers in Antique textiles will show furnishing textiles and costumes from around the world. Over the weekend event visitors can also see magnificent textiles in the Petworth House collection. Admission to the fair is £5.