Historians credit Marie Antoinette with the invention of the pocket handkerchief. She was so broken up at leaving her home in Austria that she cried all the way to France and wiped her eyes with bits of lace torn from her dress and lingerie. Anticipating future tears, she made it a point always to have a piece of lace tucked in a pocket of her dress. This say the historians, was how the handkerchief was born.
Modern Woman Magazine Vol 14, No 5 - 1945
We just love vintage hankies; they can be used in so many ways. Tuck one under a teacup and saucer for a pretty accent, use it to wrap a small gift or fill with lavender, tie up with ribbons or lace and have a pretty sachet.
