EARLY 19TH CENTURY TREE OF LIFE, MOTIF & VERSE SAMPLER BY MARY WILLIAMS - c.1830 For Sale

Early 19th century linen and silk work sampler by Mary Williams. Though Mary hasn't dated her sampler, she has told us she was born in 1819 which would indicate this piece dates to c.1830 give or take a couple of years. This sampler is just stunning with fine quality stitch work throughout. The upper section of the linen is stitched with the following verse finishing with Mary's name and her birth date of May 3rd 1818 which have a lion and cushion motif to the right
Tell me ye knowing and discerning fewWhere I may find a friend both firm and trueWho dares stand by me when in deep distressAnd then his love and friendship most expressMary Williams was born May 3 1818
The majority of the remainder of the linen is stitched with a central Tree of Knowledge, complete with entwined serpent but Adam and Eve have been replaced by a flower basket. There are two birds standing on the topmost fruits of the Tree with a small tree between them and a goblet, flower basket, fleur-de-lys and flower basket beside them. The side fruits of the Tree are flanked by a different example of floral urn with a bird and cushion motif by the right side urn, whilst the lower fruits have a flower basket to either side with a floral motif, tree and two hearts by the left side basket and a tall floral motif, flower basket, small floral motif and heart by the basket on the right. The following short verse - Time flies, man dies, eternity is at hand. What's best my rest's in Emmanuel's hand - runs across the bottom edge of the linen with a floral motif to the right, then the whole piece is surrounded by a deep floral border.
The linen has overall discolouration consistent with its age, slightly darker in places with an area of damage to the upper left corner which has resulted in a small amount of stitch loss to the floral border. There are also a few other areas of damage and one is able to see through these that the sampler is sitting on a later, clean backing cloth. The sampler is behindwhat I think is perspex or something similar so I'm not able to see the reverse, but the coloursof the silks appear good though they are likely to have mellowed to some extent over the years. There is also minor bleeding to some of the green stitch work. The sampler is contained within an early/mid 19th century ebonised frame which is in good condition with some scratches and scuff marks commensurate with its age.
Measures 11 1/2" x 14 1/2" (sight size) and 14 1/4" x 17 1/4" including the frame.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT I HAVE USED A RELATIVELY NEW CAMERA TO TAKE THESE PHOTOGRAPHS AND I AM STRUGGLING WITH THE COLOUR BALANCE (something I'm STILL continuing to work on!!) AS SUCH, SOME OF MY PHOTOS APPEAR SOMEWHAT DARK OR HAVE A SLIGHTLY FIERY OR YELLOWISH LOOK TO THEM WHICH IS NOT THE CASE, IT'S JUST MY INCOMPETENCE!
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.

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