George III, dated 1812 1812 Silkwork ''the Wish'' Sampler by Mary Driver. Framed in an old wood frame with gilt slip and glass. Mounted to conservator standards on acid free card with chipboard backing. The sampler is worked in silk on linen ground, in a variety of stitches. Meandering strawberry border. Colours black, cream, green, pale blue, light brown, dark brown, copper, magenta, gold and blue. Verse entitled ''the Wish'' reads ''I envy not the proud their wealth,> Their equipage and state;> Give me but innocence and health,> I ask not to be great.> Then free from envy, care and strife,> Permit me, heav''nly pow''rs:> To pass a pure unblemish''d life,> And crown with peace my hours.''. Signed and dated ''Mary Driver Anno Domini 1812 Her Work''. A wonderful set of motifs, some finely embroidered, including potted flowering plants and the spies of Canaan, Caleb and Joshua, bearing grapes. Two bearded men dressed in robes, sat outside a tent. Good. A few small holes. No stains other than slight uniform age darkening of the ground. Some stitch loss to tent roof, verse and signature. Colours are mostly good and strong with no noticeable fading. The silks bright and glossy. No colour run. Stretching is slightly uneven. Sampler is slightly overframed along the bottom edge, due to loss of ground below the border. Frame in good condition. 13.5ins by 10.5ins wide

Antique Textiles
Antique Samplers