Household linens incarnate a complex tradition that spans centuries and an astounding breadth of cultures. They exist in an infinite variety of fibers and weaves and can be adorned with embroidery, lace and other exquisite refinements. Linens have occasionally become so silken, so finely damasked and so magnificently decorated that they aroused passions and often represented some of the most prized elements of interiors, rivaling works of art.The Book of Fine Linen invites us to enter the elegant world of heirloom household fabrics, their use and manufacture, their embellishment and care. In her lively thematic treatment, Franoise de Bonneville presents countless fibers and materials as both quintessential examples of the weaver''s art and unusually revealing testaments of the history of daily life.Making extensive use of household inventories, diaries, and colorful details and anecdotes