Victorian, dated 1839 1839 Silkwork Sampler by Fanny Staples. 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 cross stitch throughout. Meandering floral border. Colours gold, cream, dark brown, magenta, olive green and black. Verses read ''The more we live more brief appear> Our life''s succeeding stages:> A day to childhood seems a year,> And years like passing ages> The gladsome current of our youth,> Ere passion yet disorders,> Steals ling''ring like a river smooth,> Along its grassy borders.> But as the care worn cheek grows wan,> And sorrow''s shafts fly thicker.> Ye stars that measure life to man!> Why seem your courses quicker:> When joys have lost their bloom and breath,> And life itself is vapid> Why as we reach the Falls of Death,> Feel we tide more rapid:> It may be strange-yet who would change> Time''s course to slower speeding:> When one by one our friends have gone,> And left our bosoms bleeding.> Heaven gives our years of fading strength> Indemnifying fleetness;> And those of youth a seeming length,> Proportioned to their sweetness.''. Signed and dated ''Fanny Staples Aged 8 1839''. A wonderful set of motifs, including Adam & Eve standing either side of the tree of life with a snake coiled around its trunk, castles, flowers, potted flowering plants, fruit trees, swans, rabbits, fruit baskets, fir trees, crowns, hearts, a boy, flower basket, butterflies and birds perched in trees. Good. No holes. Patchy staining and a stain line on the left hand side. Some stitch losses to the border, verse and motifs of the top half. Some colours are slightly faded. Very slight colour run around the black verse threads. Neatly and evenly stretched. Frame in very good condition, ready to hang. 18ins by 16ins wide

Antique Textiles
Antique Samplers