Sunday 13 July 2014

Some old samplers

My groups have just held a stitch and chat day with a display of the work they have done over the last year. We had a few visitors including one lady who had brought 3 samplers to show us, and when she unwrapped them, I couldn't believe what I was seeing.  She very kindly let me photograph them.

Unfortunately none of them are dated, so here's my best guesses.


I guess this charming little piece is mid to late Victorian - beautifully stitched in  tiny cross stitches across one thread on fine white linen.


I really can't guess a date for this one - maybe late eigtheenth century, early nineteenth century. This one has a name - Ann Beckett - at the bottom. This one was difficult to read, so there may be a date somewhere. The bottom two thirds is the Lord's prayer, worked in tine eyelets on unbleached linen.


This one's a real enigma - it looks like a seventeenth century band sampler (surely not!), but looking at it, it appears to have some later additions - the blue flowers and possibly the white flowers in the second and fourth bands. The "original" bits are exquisitely stitched with tiny stitches on a piece of very fine unbleached linen. There is also evidence of metallic threads in the top band. The "additions" are fairly crudely stitched .

If anyone can add anything, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

3 comments:

  1. Hi Sheila, your thoughts are exactly right. And like you the last one appears to have later additions! They all look to be in very good condition they must have been kept very well. You could always send images to the V&A for comment or your local museum, although there might not be anyone with the correct knowledge. The museum I work in has a few that are similar but I dont think they are on our website yet. Hope this helps. Anne

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Sheila. Thanks for sharing online and for the chance to see the real thing on Saturday at your exhibition. I had a great morning with your group. Angela

    ReplyDelete
  3. Have just seen identical sampler in Stitch number 74. It's 1650-90 and in the EG collection.
    Angela

    ReplyDelete