Object Description
1832 Verse Sampler by Mary Lewis. Framed in a gilded, gesso frame with glass. Fixed to card with wood backing. The sampler is worked in silk on linen ground, in cross stitch throughout. Meandering strawberry border. Colours green, cream, navy blue, pale blue, light brown and yellow. Alphabets A-Z in upper case and numbers 1-14 Verse reads, ‘I AM BUT YOUNG IN ART AND CANNOT SHEW>SUCH WORK AS I UNTO MY PARENTS OWE>BUT PLESE TO SMILE UPON MY MEAN ENDEAVOUR>I’LL STRIVE TO MEND AND BE OBEDIENT EVER’. Signed and dated, ‘MARY LEWIS FINISHED THIS WORK IN THE 13th YEAR OF HER AGE 1832’. A wonderful set of motifs, some finely embroidered, including a lady and a gentleman, lions, birds, flowers, potted flowering plants, fir trees, crowns, fruit baskets and hearts.