May Fool 1833
Scottish sampler with a four sided rosebud border, and the large illuminated initials of JF and JK at the top, very likely May’s parents. The verse is flanked by two stylized deer (more resembling benches than animals).
The verse is:
Favour is deceitful and beauty
is vain but a woman that feareth
the lord she shall be praised.
Save her of the fruit of her
hands and let her own works
Praised her in the gates
Below the verse are two small gated houses, with the lower quarter consisting of four large evergreen trees with various four legged creatures beneath them. There is some discoloration of the ground linen but otherwise the sampler is in very good condition, with very good color. Stitches used are cross,petit point, counted satin, double running and queen. It is framed in a handsome birdseye maple frame with gilt liner (not contemporary with the sampler but with some age).
The sampler measures 13″ x 17-1/2″, to the outside edges of the frame it measures 17″ x 21-1/2″