Small early 19th century sampler by Hannah Shepherd. Though undated, Hannah does tell us that she was born on July 31st 1823 which would indicate this piece dates to c.1835. Worked in wool on gauze, this little sampler is completely charming with neat stitch work throughout. The upper section of the gauze is stitched with the details on Hannah's birthday with the following short verse beneath
Alas how soon the body dies, tis but an earthly clod
Each passing moment loudly cries prepare to meet thy God
The lower section of the gauze is stitched with a central rose within a foliate garland which has a butterfly to each side with the addition of a small floral motif above the right side butterfly. The whole piece is then surrounded by a deep floral border.
The gauze has overall, somewhat brown discolouration consistent with its age, paler around the edges from where the sampler has originally been over a stretcher. There are also some paler patches to the field with two small areas of damage above and below the word EARTHLY in the verse. The sampler is behind glass so I'm not able to see the reverse, but the colours of the wool appear good though they are likely to have mellowed to some extent over the years. There is also bleeding to the black stitch work of the words. The sampler is contained within an early/mid 20th century ebonised frame which is in good condition with some scratches and scuff marks commensurate with its age and intentional distressing.
Measures 10 1/2" x 10 1/2" (sight size) and 11 1/2" x 11 1/2" including the frame.
I AM ALSO SELLING ANOTHER, ALMOST IDENTICAL SAMPLER WHICH I ACQUIRED AT THE SAME TIME AS HANNAH'S. IT IS WORKED BY MARY ANN SHEPHERD WHO WAS BORN JANUARY 22ND 1825 & WITH BOTH PIECES BEING TOGETHER AND SHARING THE SAME SURNAME AND SIMILAR THEME, I THINK IT IS LIKELY THE GIRLS WERE SISTERS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT I HAVE USED A NEW CAMERA TO TAKE THESE PHOTOGRAPHS AND I AM STRUGGLING WITH THE COLOUR BALANCE (something I'm STILL working on!!) AS SUCH, SOME OF MY PHOTOS HAVE A SLIGHTLY FIERY OR YELLOWISH LOOK TO THEM WHICH IS NOT THE CASE, IT'S JUST MY INCOMPETENCE!
PLEASE NOTE - ANY MARKS ETC ON THE PHOTOGRAPHS WHICH I'VE NOT ALREADY MENTIONED ARE FROM THE GLARE AND REFLECTION OF THE GLASS AND NOT ON THE SAMPLER ITSELF.
ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE ASK. ALSO PLEASE CHECK OUT THE OTHER SAMPLERS I'M SELLING. I AM HAPPY TO COMBINE POSTAGE ON MULTIPLE PURCHASES.
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 ROYAL MAIL TRACK & SIGNED - $35.00 TO THE USA, ELSEWHERE PLEASE CONTACT ME.