Product Description

Hanky Panky An Intimate History of the Handkerchief by Helen Gustafson

Helen Gustafson applies her storytelling talents to the enchanting, unique history of the handkerchief in America. Part memoir, part social history, HANKY PANKY weaves a captivating tale of this delicate linen, which is now enjoying a renaissance of sorts. For those who grew up before Kleenex tissue came on the scene, this volume will bring back the glory days, when handkerchiefs were an indispensable part of every woman’s wardrobe and toilette. For those born AK (after Kleenex), the breathtaking illustrations and juicy handkerchief gossip about such icons as Marlene Dietrich, Joan Crawford, and Jackie Kennedy will give them a newfound appreciation for this timeless accessory.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #751181 in Books
• Published on: 2004-03-01
• Released on: 2004-03-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 160 pages

Review
“[A] heartfelt tell-all coffee-table book about what might be the ultimate accessory.” —San Antonio Express News“Told with wit and poignancy and illustrated with photos of handkerchiefs that are playful, artistic, culturally or personally significant, or simply worth a look.” —Tampa Tribune “With its clever title, informational tidbits and photos of unusual hankies, HANKY PANKY is nothing to sneeze at.” —Associated Press“This book is a rich collection of beautiful pictures illustrating the art of the handkerchief.” —Las Vegas Senior Review“Those who admire the beauty of this deceptively delicate accessory will delight in Helen Gustafson'¬?s book of funny anecdotes, beautiful visuals and historical information.” —Victoria magazine

From the Publisher
•Features full-color illustrations of more than 100 unusual handkerchiefs from the author’s extensive collection, including rare commemorative handkerchiefs never seen before in one collection.

About the Author
One of the premiere tea writers in America, HELEN GUSTAFSON is the author of The Agony of the Leaves and The Green Tea User’s Manual. She is the tea buyer at the renowned Chez Panisse restaurant in Berkeley, California, and a consultant on tea service to hotels and restaurants. Helen has been collecting handkerchiefs for over 50 years. She lives in Berkeley, California.

Customer Reviews

Not designed to be informative
The only book about handkerchiefs I could find, and it has no information about how to care for them. Mostly anecdotes about the author's personal antique hanky collection, with full-page photographs of the more significant hankies.

I wasn't interested in your antique hankies; the topic does not entertain me.

I wanted to learn about the cultural role served by hankies, their social symbolism, why you're supposed to have one folded up in your tuxedo pocket, how to wash them in such a way that they neither wear out nor carry diseases, how gentlepeople used to communicate by waving hankies around, and whether "mens" hankies are three times the size of "ladies" hankies because men are supposed to have bigger boogers, or what. I have so many questions about hankies and this book didn't answer any of them. Being informative was simply not the book's purpose.

Although, it did show that geisha would sometimes carry a hanky with a silk butterfly sewn onto it over a lace hole, so that when she waved the hanky as she gestured, the breeze would pass through the hole and the silk butterfly's wings would flutter. That was cool.

beautiful book!
I collect handkercheifs, and it was great to find a book about them, especially one as pretty as this!
Thanks so much, I love it!