Object Description
Regency Sampler, stitched in the 1820’s, by Phebe Wallington. The sampler is worked in silk threads on a linen ground, mainly in cross stitch. Meandering floral border. Colours red, green, copper, gold, black and blue. Alphabets A-Z in upper case and lower case and numbers 1-15. Verse entitled ‘Vicissitudes of life’ reads, ‘All earthly good still attends itself with harm, Roses have thorns a storm succeeds a calm, Joys have their sorrows laughter has its tears, Sweets have their bitters drops and hope its fears, Day has its night the sun its gloomy cloud, the dimpled smile its sigh and life its shroud’. Signed and dated, ‘Phebe Wallington Aged 14 November 5 182.’ (the final digit is missing). A wonderful set of motifs, including a girl riding a donkey in a garden. A pergoda on one side, a dog called Dash on the other. Also, two cats on cushions, butterflies, birds, potted flowering plants and fruit baskets. Framed in an old, possibly original, Hogarth frame with glass. Mounting: The sampler is fixed to board. Frame backed with cardboard and sealed with tape.. Dimensions exclude the frame and slip.