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1831 Silkwork Sampler by Mary Ann Adams

William IV, dated 1831. 16ins by 12ins wide. Framed in an old, possibly original, wood frame with rippled, dimpled, old glass. Fixed to chipboard dust cover.

The sampler is worked in silk on linen ground, in cross stitch throughout.

Meandering floral strawberry border.

Colours dark green, blue, olive green, pale green, copper, gold, white, brown and pink.

Verse reads

'Virtue's the chiefest Beauty of the Mind

The noblest Ornament of Human-kind

Virtue's our Safeguard and our guiding Star

That stirs up Reason when our Senses err

Religion prompts us to a future State

The last Appeal from Fortune and from Fate

Where God's all righteous Ways will be declar d

The Bad meet Punishment the Good Reward'.

Signed and dated 'Mary Ann Adams Decr 19 1831'.

Good set of motifs, some finely detailed, including a castle,

peacocks,

dogs,

squirrels,

birds,

butterflies

and potted flowering plants.

CONDITION: Good. Two small repaired holes, illustrated.

Some pale patchy staining, illustrated.

No stitch losses.

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

Stretching is very slightly uneven.

Frame showing a few scratches, worst illustrated, but is structurally sound and in our opinion could be hung 'as is'.

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