A beautiful 19th century colourful antique needlework sampler

A colourful and very decorative sampler dating to the nineteenth century. Some of the stitching has disintegrated with age, so that, for instance, the date cannot be read and the border has gaps in it. But we know it was made by Ann Barker, who has sewn her name in pale blue across the bottom, along with 'August' (hard to read) and 18 (the last two digits of the date missing).

Above, Ann has sewn alphabets and numbers in different colours and styles, and also two sweet dogs, baskets of flowers, decorative crosses and birds perched on a fountain.

In a gold-trimmed varnished wood frame, this is a really evocative and interesting piece of sewing.

Measures 32 x 24.5 cm (including frame).