Mary Bailey 1818

Description

Mary Bailey stitched this sampler in England and finished it in 1818. It demonstrates an advanced level of skill given the symmetry of the design and its many diverse elements: a red brick mansion house with four chimneys- a sign of wealth in early 19th century England, flying cherubs bearing crowns (a suggestion that her family might hhave some royal connections), and most extraordinary are the black faced musicians flanking the lower cartouche. They appear to be holding violins. The queen’s swans are represented as well as the biblical and traditional “Spies of Canaan” bearing large bunches of grapes. The verse is:

The greatest King on earth and meanest Slave,
For worldly Pomp are equal in the grave,
Only the pious actions of the Just,
At the Last Day shall Blossom in the Dust.

Stitches used in the sampler are cross, petit point and counted satin. On 35 count linen the sampler will most closely approximate the size of the original, or 18-1/2″ x 21″. The sampler is recommended for intermediate level needle workers. DIMENSIONS: 324 width, 363 height

THE ORIGINAL SAMPLER IS SHOWN IN THE PICTURES.