EARLY 19TH CENTURY

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EARLY 19TH CENTURY "WHAT IS LIFE?" VERSE, BIRDS & FLORAL MOTIF SAMPLER - 1813 For Sale

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EARLY 19TH CENTURY "WHAT IS LIFE?" VERSE, BIRDS & FLORAL MOTIF SAMPLER - 1813:
$445.00

Early 19th century linen and wool work sampler - 1813. Worked by an anonymous hand, this sampler is just stunning with fine quality stitch work throughout. The upper section of the linen is stitched with a trio of white doves nestled on a floral swag with a spray of flowers above them, a bird on a branch to their left and a cockerel to their right. The middle section of the linen is stitched with the following verse which has a large crested bird on a blossom branch to the left with a smaller bird on a leafy branch below him and a colourful finch on a blossom branch to the right with a floral spray beside him and a larger bird on a leafy branch below
What is life? Some say a jest. Some a fleeting dream at bestA vapour, some, soon pass'd away. A sunbeam on a winter's dayA shadow, gone as soon as spied. A bubble bursting when descriedA flower which in the morning gay expands its charms to opening dayBut ere arrives the fervid noon, its rifled beauties are all goneThe longest period deign'd to man, the sacred text calls but a spanDream, vapour, jest, or span, whate'er it it. May I the whole, O LORD devote to thee
The lower section of the linen is stitched centrally with the date of 1813 which has a trio of doves in a bird bath nestled amongst flowers and foliage beneath, with a floral spray to the left and a bird on a branch to its right. Each of the four corners of the linen are then stitched with a decorative swag.
The linen has overall discolouration consistent with its age, very slightly darker in places with an area of staining to the middle of the bottom edge. The sampler is behind glass so I'm not able to see the reverse,but the colours of the wool appear good silks appear good though they are likely to have mellowed to some extent over the years. There is also very minor bleeding to the black stitch work of the verse. The sampler is contained within its seemingly original ebonized frame with gilt slip which retains much of its original gilding. The frame is in good condition with scratches, scuff marks and areas of age related rubbing commensurate with its age.
Measures 16 1/4" x 12 1/2"(sight size) and 19" x 15 1/2"including the frame.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT I HAVE USED A NEW CAMERA TO TAKE THESE PHOTOGRAPHS AND I AM STRUGGLING WITH THE COLOUR BALANCE (something I'm STILL working on!!) AS SUCH, SOME OF MY PHOTOS HAVE A SLIGHTLY FIERY OR YELLOWISH LOOK TO THEM WHICH IS NOT THE CASE, IT'S JUST MY INCOMPETENCE!PLEASE NOTE - ANY MARKS ETC ON THE PHOTOGRAPHS WHICH I'VE NOT ALREADY MENTIONED ARE FROM THE GLARE AND REFLECTION OF THE GLASS AND NOT ON THE SAMPLER ITSELF.
ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE ASK. ALSO PLEASE CHECK OUT THE OTHER SAMPLERS I'M SELLING. I AM HAPPY TO COMBINE POSTAGE ON MULTIPLE PURCHASES.PLEASE NOTE - THIS ITEM IS LOCATED IN THE UK BUT CAN BE SHIPPED TO THE LOCATIONS TICKED IN THE INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING SECTION.
SHIPPING WILL BE VIA PARCELFORCE OR FEDEX - FULLY TRACKED DELIVERY TO THE USA WITHIN FIVE WORKING DAYS.