Antique Samplers

A British Colonial SamplerThis 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 house…

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…

17?4 Silkwork Sampler by Susey Oliver. Framed in an old ‘molded composition over wood’ and gilt frame with rippled, old glass. Stitched to linen with wooden backing and brown paper dust cover. The sampler is finely worked in silk on linen ground, in a variety of stitches including Algerian eye. Meandering leafy border. Colours magenta,…

An English tablet-style sampler stitched with silk on fine linen, featuring three stanzas of a verse titled “On Virtue” within two large columns with intricately stitched birds (possibly a swan and a phoenix) atop the columns, with a four sided floral border. Cupids with bows and dogs flank the columns on both sides. Stitches used…

A Scottish Sampler This beautiful Scottish sampler features illuminated letters, an arcaded floral band, traditional motifs including peacocks with seven tail feathers, windmills. birds at the Fountain of Life within a leafy half cartouche, illuminated letters and family initials. It is nearly identical to another Scottish sampler we offer for sale- Katie Sym’s dated 1769-…