#7054
 Stag Sampler

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10 " x 11 3/4 ".   13" x 15 " including a 19th century bird's eye maple frame.  In spite of some condition issues, this sweet sampler is not without its charm. The peaceful vignette at the bottom of the sampler is quite lovely.  There is a stag at rest between two soft, airy trees.  It's a very simple little scene but somehow, it makes me smile. The sampler features two different borders. The outside strawberry border surrounds an inner delicate floral border, which of course surrounds what would have been the verse.  Sadly, the verse has faded away and is no longer readable. 

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                                                                                   When this sampler came to me, it was folded over about 3" from the top and framed in an awful frame that was obviously too small for it. It constantly amazes me to see what some people will do to a lovely piece of needlework just to save a few dollars on a frame.  I have since reframed it on acid-free board in a nice 19th century bird's eye maple frame.                                                                                                                                                            

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As mentioned above, the verse on this charming sampler has faded away.  And while the signature is also no longer there, the date of the sampler is quite visable. It is dated August 20th, 1817. There is a pronounced fold line where the sampler was framed folded back.  There are several holes along this line. There are also holes along the bottom border and there is one in the left border area about 5" from the top.                                                                                                                                                                        $475      

 #7060
 Ann Egerton Sampler

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12 1/4 " x 15 1/2 ".   18" x 20 3/4 " including a lovely old maple frame.   The "NS" at the top of the sampler probably indicates that Ann was a student at a National School. She stitched a sweet strawberry border surrounded on both sides with an eyelet stitch edging.  And then she added the prim and proper trees and florals. But I must admit that I bought Ann's charming sampler because of it's wonderful verse, which talks about needlework and virtue. I am particularly fond of the line, "...Shun every vice with studious care, each female folly flee...".   I wonder how we would react today if we were taught to let each female folly flee?  She signed her sampler, "Ann Egerton  1813".

Her verse reads:

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 "Learn little maid each useful art
That may adorn thy youth,
Learn to improve thy tender heart
In virtue, grace; and truth.
Shun every vice with studious care,
Each female folly flee,
That every grace that crowns the fair,
May e'er attend on thee,
While others idly waste their days,
In vanity and pride,
More to deserve than seek our praise
Let thine be well employ'd,
And when thy needle's curious skill,
Thy silk with art half twin'd,
To mark these dictates of the quill;
Mark this upon thy mind,
If age or sicknefs(sickness) should invade,
And beauty's charms decrease,
Yet virtue's charms no time can fade;
They fill the soul with peace."
                                                                                                                                                    

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There is one large hole in Ann's sampler near the top left tree which is fairly noticable. At some point (probably long ago) the edges of the hole were overcast with tiny stitches to keep the hole from getting any larger. There are also a few stains, most noticably in the bottom left corner, just under the middle right tree and and the top right border area. There is a tiny repair just under the word "flee". The fabric is otherwise quite strong and stable. The sampler is stitched to muslin and then mounted on acid-free board.                                                                                                                                                                                                            $965      

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#7063 

Emma Treble Sampler -
8" x 8". 17" x 17" including a modern frame. The colors of Emma's lovely alphabet sam- pler are light shades of red, gray and brown.  She did sign her sampler, but she did not date it. I believe it to be circa 1830. It is in very good condition. There are no holes, no thread losses and no bleeding.                                                                                                                                                                                   $385

 #7059
 Marianni Miozzarri Embroidery

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15 " x 10 ".   17 1/2" x 12 1/4 " including possibly the original frame.  Marianni's embroidery is abso- lutely exquisite.  The detail is amazing and the work- manship is stunning. She depicts a shepherd and shepherdess sitting by a river with some of their flock. At their feet we see several baskets and interestingly, an open book with a quote in German. The quote reads, "Lieb Gott  von Herze", which I think translates to "Love God from Heart".  

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                                                                               The detail on the town in the background is nothing short of spectacular.  And it is indeed, an entire town.  The castle on the hill is again, filled with amazing detail.  The knots used for the sheep are perfectly executed.  Marianni's embroidery is sim- ply a work of art. There is chenille work in the trees and in the clothing, which adds a great deal of texture. This embroidery is very special.

She signed her needlework " Marianni Miozzarri 1828".

                                                                                                                                                

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The condition of this needlework is very good. Embroideries stitched with silk on silk are gen- erally very fragile and usually filled with holes. This one is not only very strong, but I only see one small hole just above the tree on the right. There is a very small amount of thread loss on the bottom edge of the embroidery and a bit of fading in the signature and date. There are also a few random black spots on the background fabric. But overall I think the condition is quite good.   It has been mounted on acid-free board.

                                                                                                                         $2865