Early 19th century linen and silk work sampler by Eliza Currie aged 7 - 1810. This sampler is just stunning with fine quality stitch work throughout, the moreso when one considers Eliza was just seven years old when she completed it. The upper section of the linen is stitched with three sets of alphabet letters, plus vowels and the numbers 1 through to 10, each underlined with a different example of border pattern. The middle section of the linen is stitched with the following verse divided by a linked border with an example of border pattern to each side of its title and all underlined with a triangulated long stitch border
On Industry
Go learn from yonder tribe of bees the way to affluence and ease
In summer with unwearied cart for dreary winter they prepare
Their honey cull from every flower and husband well each fleeting hour
Stores to prepare which food shall yield when dies the flower and droops the field
Learn hence ye youths whilst in your prime well to improve important time
Remember it flies swiftly on and once elapsed is ever gone
Engrave instruction on your mind, let wisdom's paths your presence find
That so when youth has fled away old age may smile in its decay
The lower section of the linen is stitched with a central fruit basket with a flower basket open tailed peacock, butterfly and bird to its left and right which have Eliza's details and the date of 1810 between them. The whole piece is then surrounded by a narrow linked border pattern which in turn is surrounded by a deep floral border.
The linen has overall discolouration consistent with its age with general faint speckled staining and visible glue residue around the edges. There is an area of damage to the lower left side edge and a few smaller areas elsewhere. One is able to see through these that the sampler is sitting on a similar coloured backing cloth. The sampler is behind glass so I'm not able to see the reverse, but the colours of the silks appear good though they are likely to have mellowed to some extent over the years. There is also a small amount of minor thinning to some of the first letters in the lines of the verse. The sampler is contained within a mid 19th century bird's eye maple frame which is in good condition with some light scratches and scuff marks commensurate with its age, a small area of what appears to be paint to the left side and a sliver of loss to the veneer on the lower right outer side.
Measures 12 3/4" x 16 1/2" (sight size) and 16 1/2" x 20" including the frame.
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PLEASE NOTE - THIS ITEM IS LOCATED IN THE UK BUT CAN BE SHIPPED TO THE LOCATIONS TICKED IN THE INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING SECTION.
SHIPPING WILL BE VIA PARCELFORCE - FULLY TRACKED DELIVERY TO THE USA WITHIN FIVE WORKING DAYS.