A fine linen cloth originally produced in Laon, northern France, now mostly woven in cotton. Lawn is a fine, plain, tightly woven, strong fabric with a high thread count giving a light, silky, smooth feel with a good drape. Only just opaque, lawn lies between organdie, and calico) and can be printed or left plain.
Dress-weight Liberty prints were always printed on Tana lawn, after lake Tana in Sudan where the raw cotton was grown; the finest semi-sheer curtains are woven cotton lawns. Indian lawn, Victoria lawn, Persian lawn, Egyptian lawn and Bishops lawn are some of the better-known types.
Tana lawn cushion beneath the gingham tied garden sham; a mid 1900’s printed linen beneath
Classic gingham over a Liberty printed Tana lawn – both very washable
See separate entry for tana lawn