Antique Sampler, 1721 Alphabet sampler by Judeth Skinner

George II, dated 1721. 16.8ins high, 8.8ins wide, 1.1ins deep. Band sampler by Judeth Skinner dated 1721.

Worked in silk and cotton on linen ground, in a great variety of stitches including very fine Algerian eye and some raised work. Divider lines in numerous stitches, patterns and colours, including alphabets, numbers, and the inscription "Mans lives is nothing but a winters day some only bred their past and so awry Others stay dinner and depart full fend The deepemst age but sups and goes to bed Hes most in det that lingers out txx the day who dies so times as lest and best today".

Two bands with crowns and coronets one with the date 1702 [possibly commemorating the start of Queen Anne's War (1702–1713) fought in England's 13 American Colonies]

the other with the date 1721 possibly the date this sampler was completed.

And the last band "Judeth Skinner her sampler in the year of".

Framed in an old wood frame, gold painted, with glass and added spacers. Mounting: stitched to the original card mountboard. Finished with card backboard sealed with tape.

CONDITION: Good. No holes. A few pale patchy stains, barely visible. No stitch losses. Colours are all good and strong with only slight fading. The silks bright and glossy.

Pale colours difficult to read.

No colour run. Unevenly stretched. Frame showing some wear, but is structurally sound and in our opinion could be hung 'as is'.

(N.B: Despite the last band, "Judeth Skinner her sampler in the year of", finishing abruptly, having examined out of the frame, we feel this is how it was originally made. The finish (We have a pic of it out of the frame) at the bottom edge of the sampler matches all the other edges.)

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