Victorian, dated 184? 184? Silkwork Sampler by Mary Whitworth. Framed in an old wood frame with gilt slip and glass. Stitched to linen and stretched over card with chipboard dust cover. The sampler is worked in silk on linen ground, in cross stitch throughout. No border. Colours black, copper, gold, cream and green. Alphabets A-Z in upper case. Verse reads ''A year . alas . How soon tis past> Who knows but this may be our> last . A few short years . how> soon they are fled And we are> numbered with the dead''. Signed and dated ''Mary Whitworth her Work in the year of her age 184? At Farnsfield Nottinghamshire'' (last number in date unstitched). Nottinghamshire is a county in England. A good set of motifs, including a church, birds, flowers and potted flowering plants. Generally Good. A few holes, and some old tack holes along the bottom edge. One repair on the top line of the alphabet. No stains. No stitch losses other than to the holed areas. Colours are all good and strong with no noticeable fading. The silks bright and glossy. No colour run. Stretching is very slightly uneven. Frame and gilt slip showing some wear, but structurally sound and could be hung ''as is''. Hanging hooks to the top and reverse. 17ins by 12.25ins wide

Antique Textiles
Antique Samplers