@Emily Finch Uh no. you are severely misinformed I must say. it’s much much more about how the linen is weaved and finished rather than the raw material of the flax. Just as, Italian leather uses cow hides outside of Italy, such as Argentina. But it’d be laughable to say that Argentinian leather is just as good as Italian leather. Another example: Scottish and Italian Cashmere use raw cashmere hair from China (Inner Mongolia region), but it’d be laughable to say Chinese Cashmere knitwear is the same superior quality as Scottish or Italian Cashmere. If the raw material is what matters the most, virtually everywhere could produce the exact same product by just purchasing the raw material of the specified place. But that just isn't so, otherwise these companies would be completely outcompeted already by places with cheaper labor. This is why ”Belgian Flax Linen” (linen woven in China or India using flax from Belgium) is almost always inferior to true Belgian linen (Linen woven in Belgium using flax from Belgium). And from my extensive experience, linen woven in Ireland, or Irish linen, tend to be the finest quality in the world that trumps Belgian linen (on average of course). That being said, unfortunately, Thomas Ferguson no longer produces their "premier" line linen. Because I guess they weren't cost effective for them. Their premier line is the finest modern linen there is next to McCaw and Allen Royal Warranty linen. But it was too expensive to produce and nowadays you can actually find vintage Irish linen (even unused in box) just as fine for half the cost so TF were losing quite a lot of money so they stuck to superior line for their finest linen model (they even told me their superior line is pretty much the only one that was selling). They are now producing more economy line linen that are much cheaper (e.g., chambray linen) but the quality has become much more average as a result. Libeco's Geneva line is actually a bit finer than TF's superior line. The finest modern linen I've found recently that doesn't cost thousands of dollars per set is LinaPlusHome's Italian Lavanda line (150gsm). Everyone should check it out. LinaPlusHome is on etsy. Her Italian linens are absolutely breathtaking you have to see them to believe it.

Do you seat six for meals at your table on a daily basis? If so, please read no further in this comment because it will be useless. If, however, you have some flexibility on the number of table leaves used every day, I wonder if you've considered removing one leaf and trying the lovely runner on the slightly smaller sized tabletop? It could lengthen the runner drop about six inches or so, and that might give it a different look in the space. It's hard to see (on my screen here) what the leaf options are. Just an idea if you feel like trying it. BTW, I like your wall color and fresh white trim.

I am sitting across the room from at least half a dozen pieces of linen -- white, natural, shades of blue, green and grey and a jaquard, a stripe and a textured weave. I just recently made my sister a kitchen towels in a half dozen colors, including a lemon yellow and a tangerine orange (to match her Fiestaware). I have a linen throw on the sofa next to me. Linen has a distinct hand and nothing wrinkles like linen. That would be my first test. I suspect the time period with mustard golds in vintage years may have favored "modern" fibers like polyester and rayon. Poly doesn't usually wrinkle but rayon sure can. The pills on the fabric are more typical of poly or acrylic fibers. And one other things that makes me doubt it is linen are the tiny hems. Linen tends to have deeper hems. Linen ravels. It is also considered a luxury fabric (perhaps a reason that table linens tend to be found in classic natural and white or off-white rather than colors -- but you sure can get colors). When made into items, care is usually give to finely finish the seam or edges. The deeper hems also give more weight and a more luxurious feel to the finishing. Maybe it wasn't always treated that way, but I can't think of anything I have, old or new, that isn't treated that way. If water beads on it, it either isn't pure linen or it has a finish on it Before posting this, I went and checked my thoughts. I have new, unlaundered linen and water beaded on it. You can also feel the finish on the fabric. I have some of the same fabric that has been laundered and water does not bead on it. Water didn't bead on my kitchen towel or my bed sheet (yeah, I'm becoming a linen junkie -- LOL). You could not see any beading, much less get a picture of it. Linen is very absorbent, but also dries quickly. Love it. When you wash the tablecloth, you will get more clues as to how the fabric handles. If it requires ironing and wrinkles lengthwise along the hems, I'd lean more to linen. But I'm not betting on it. If you love it and it wasn't sold to you as linen at a premium price, then I wouldn't worry about it. Wash it cool or warm and gentle and use Oxyclean for stains, tumble dry low. Check it before drying it, but that care should be good for 90% of your options.

@Mrs S what are you talking about? the original post asks for suggestions on where to buy quality linen bedding. Are you suggesting that the companies I listed are “my companies?” I can only surmise that you haven’t heard of these companies because they are small family/individual companies off of Etsy. and they produce very high quality linen bedding. One is based in US using Belgian linen the other is based in Lithuania using Baltic linen, the third one is based in US using Baltic linen. I am in no way associated with them other than I bought many times from them and can vouch for their quality. there is absolutely no need to get so rude.