Another from my stash of decades of buying trips, this is a favorite - a Victorian era sampler, likely completed by a young girl, working to master her sewing and needle arts. A proper young woman's formal education areas of expertise included sewing, embroidery, music, comportment and manners, and perhaps reading. From a very young age a girl would work on embroideries, and samplers like this one show her skill level. Charming as can be, quite often their own drawings turned into figures, this one includes cat, swan, monkey, deer, camel, bunny, poodle and more. Things of interest to a child. Some also include a girl's signature or date, though this one does not. Linen canvas in very good form, seems never to have been made up so perhaps framed, though there is little fading to the colorful yarns used (see photo of backside). Perhaps just put away, along with childhood things? Superb now to make up into a lush-fringed and down-filled throw pillow, or as center to a tablecloth, perhaps. Either would be fabulous! I'd date this one c.1850-70. Worked area is 15" square on a 19" square linen canvas.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type, the linen canvas is strong and needlework, needlepoint, embroidery is undamaged, not faded much at all, and totally charming. No holes or tears, no moth or bug damage, ready to become your favorite throw pillow top.
