William IV, dated October 12 1831 1831 Silkwork Sampler by Ann Topham. Framed in an old, gilded, gesso frame with rippled, old glass. Tacked to a wood stretcher frame with paper and chipboard backing. The sampler is worked in silk on canvas ground, in a variety of stitches. Meandering floral border. Colours gold, cream, navy blue, greens and brown. Family names THOMAS TOPHAM and ELIZABETH TOPHAM. Verse reads ''Let me be wise in youth O Lord that so> I safe may tread the way I ought to go> Lead me and learn me what is right and Just> For in thy help my God I Place my trust> For in the day that thou> eatest thereof thou shalt> surely die''. ''When I was> young I little thou> ght that learning> was so dearly> bought if you look> hear you may see> what care my par> ents took of me''. Signed and dated ''Ann Topham Aged 13 Years Snape October 12 1831''. A good set of motifs, including a house, stars and the moon, strawberries, castles, trees, figures, potted flowering plants, lions, Adam & Eve standing either side of the fruit laden tree of life, a snake coiled around its trunk, dogs, birds, stag, fir trees, fruit baskets, squirrels and a heart. Good. No holes. A few stains. Adam''s sash frayed at the end. Colours are slightly faded, but still well defined. No colour run. Stretching is very slightly uneven. Frame showing wear and chips, but structurally sound and ready to hang. 18.75ins by 22ins wide

Antique Textiles
Antique Samplers