Item 26-249

This is a black glazed linen thread wound around a distinctive red-painted cardboard winding card with eight projecting tabs. This style of presentation was widely used in France during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Many French manufacturers sold thread this way before wooden reels and plastic spools became the standard.

This thread dates from approximately 1900–1935,

The clues to this date include:

• the heavy, glazed appearance of the thread

• the painted card rather than a printed paper label

• the traditional hand-wound format

• the absence of modern branding or barcodes

This is câblé lin (cabled linen thread) and is valued because it is:

• exceptionally strong

• abrasion resistant

• naturally smooth

• able to hold knots securely

The slight sheen suggests the thread has been glazed, traditionally with wax or starch, making it easier to sew through heavy fabrics and leather.