1838 sampler by Jane Pillsworth Blankney

early Victorian, 16.5ins. by 10.75ins, this pic is a combo done to get the best detail of the whole sampler...

this one has ALL the ingredients, 2 alphabets, 1 numbers, full name 'Jane Pillsworth Blankey', age 'Aged 11 years', date '1838', verse 'The time is short but who can..tell..(squeezed above when she ran out of space, super child's touch) How short my time below may be today on earth my soul may dwell to morrow (sic) in eternity'...

minor motifs, heart, diamond, dog/lion, bird, large motifs, big red house with three chimneys with two storks above carrying some object to the house...dare one speculate

, squirrels, flowerpots and a big flower urn with another bird above it.

Simple border, colors pink, blue, red, dark green, brown, orange and yellow, all in simple cross stitch, . Good condition with no patchy staining, very slight darkening from age [I think the sampler was folded away until 1959 when it was framed possibly for the first time - newspapers of that date were found behind the backing], no fading, no holes, no color run. Eighteen stitch losses, most of them single stitches, and not detracting.

Localised pulling of the ground weave from frustration during the embroidery maybe.

Frame and linen covered card to which this sampler is stitched are of no consequence but available if required.

Enjoy the auction!

Best wishes,

David Tulk

Madelena Antiques

http://business.fortunecity.com/perelman/198/home.html