Antique Samplers

This band sampler stitched with silk on linen is in superb condition, and demonstrates many of the motifs popular on samplers of this period. It appears never to have been framed or folded, and retains very good color on the front, and excellent color on the back. It has been mounted between two sheets of…

A Spanish Sampler This exquisite Spanish sampler consists of four vertical pattern bands stitched on one piece of fine linen using multicolored silks. The bands demonstrate an astonishing variety of stitches and techniques, all expertly executed, including Aztec, faggot, braid stitch, drawn thread, dove’s eye, cross, double running, and counted satin, to name just a…

This pictorial sampler illustrates the flight of Joseph and Mary into Egypt, accompanied by Christmas themed verses: Bright Angels sung on that happy mornGlory to God a saviour’s bornHe lived he bled he died upon the treeHe reigns in heaven to intercede for me. The sampler has two additional verses: Glory to God in the…

A British Colonial Sampler This elaborate sampler featuring a fearsome tiger, a plantation house covered in trellises and tropical vines, a peacock, a pea hen, rooster and butterflies, was probably stitched in Africa or India by a British girl. The lovely four sided border consists of flowers filled in with counted satin stitch. The plantation…

This is probably the upper half of what was once a magnificent sampler stitched on fine tiffany cloth with silk flosses. It features a fine mansion house fronted by extensive lawns, a driveway, an elaborate stag and bird and a magnificent tree. Stitches used are stem filling, cross, straight, counted and freehand satin stitches. The…

Finely stitched English sampler with two verses: OF EASTER and OF WHITSUNDAY surrounded by a beautiful and unusual floral borders executed in cross and satin stitches. The attribution at the bottom is “E. GIRTON GOVERNESS NEWARK”. Inside the lower cartouche it reads: Mary Pickering work wrought in the fourteenth year of her age in the…

This very finely stitched petit point canvaswork picture of a blue and white urn burgeoning with naturalistic flowers (carnations, tulips, periwinkles, daisies, chrysanthemums) was probably made as a chair back, or a fire screen. It is signed with the initials “MC”. It has been professionally cleaned and conserved by Frances Faile, and is museum mounted…

De-accessioned from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this delightful sampler has been professionally conserved by museum staff. It’s not in great condition, it isn’t framed, but it has been stabilized. It features a four sided floral border, with Adam and Eve as the focal point alongside a tree of life with a realistic raised work…

The original “Eleanor Parr” antique sampler is available for sale. Some of the photos were taken prior to conservation and framing. She was born in 1816 in Burscough near Ormskirk in Lancashire to John and Ann Parr. At the time of her birth her father was a boatsman on the canals, but in a later…

Finished Decemr Ye 8 English band sampler consisting of rows of alphabets, vowels, numerals, pattern bands, verses and crowns, executed in cross, petit point, stem, satin and eyelet stitches. The first verse is a quote from John Dryden (1631-1700): Fragrant the Rose is but it fades in time. The violetsweet but quickly past the Prime.…

Probably English, early 18th century (circa 1720) Executed in fine wool and silk, this beautifully balanced needlework picture depicts two characters in a rural setting, the woman carrying a jug of water on her head, the man apparently leaping or dancing, with a flock of very contented sheep to their right. One sheep appears to…

Frederikshald, Norway This beautiful and unusual Norwegian sampler is noteworthy for the exquisitely stitched floral wreath at the center, and alphabets and numerals forming the four sided border. The style of lettering is also unique, looking more like cursive than actual cross stitched letters. The outermost border has been finely hem stitched. It was finished…