Antique Scottish Sampler, 1837, by Agnes Sangster

Victorian, dated 1837. 19.7ins high, 17.1ins wide, 1.4ins deep (excludes frame). Victorian Scottish House Sampler, 1837, by Agnes Sangster.

The sampler is worked in silk threads on a linen ground, in a variety of stitches. Meandering leafy border.

Colours green, blue, light brown, dark brown, white and black.

Family initials, 'J.S' and 'M.S'.

Verse reads, 'There is rest for the soul that IN JESUS reties, There is a home for the homeless prepared in the skies, There is JOY in the heavens a rest and a stay, Which the world cannot give nor the world take away.'.

Signed and dated 'Agnes Sangster Aged 8 September 30th 1837'.

A wonderful set of finely embroidered motifs.

The main subject is a large country house with a fenced garden with fir trees, stags either side and flowers.

The depth of the wonderful lawn is substantial.

Framed in an old wood frame with rippled, old glass.

Mounting: The sampler is tacked to a wood stretcher frame. Frame backed with brown paper and sealed with tape.

There is a handwritten note attached to the back which reads as follows.

'Sampler belongs to A. G. Chisholm. Sewn by Helen Sangster, born 1829, wife of Agnes (Adam) Thomson, butcher in Aberdeen. Bequeathed to Janet G. Chisholm by Agnes Thomson's daughter of above.

Embroidered on fine Holland (linen) made in a factory in Montrose.'.

Having done a small amount of research, I found evidence that not all of this is necessarily correct. I have discovered in the old Parish registers, a record of the birth of an Agnes Sangster in Aberdeen in 1829, to parents James Sangster and Margaret Scott, which match the initials on the sampler itself. And with the birth date, at the age of 8, matches the date the sampler was finished. It would be interesting to explore this further.

CONDITION: Very Good. No holes. Slight discolouration of the ground along the signature area.

No stitch losses. Colours are mostly good and strong with no noticeable fading. The silks bright and glossy. No colour run.

Neatly and evenly stretched, though there are a couple of wrinkled areas.

Frame showing slight wear, otherwise sound.

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