Italian Sampler For Auction * 14 March 2012

Lot 1623 is for auction at Reeman Dansie of Colchester and barely merits a sentence of description. It is large and dated 1817. But what is wonderful about it is its Italian origin. Samplers come to rest often many miles away from home. This was stitched by Michieli Caligari and she tells us she worked it in 1817 aged d'anni 6 e mesi 5 ( 6 years and 5 months old) and also, perhaps sadly, that it is per souvenienza di Rosa Caligari - and the age of Rosa is hidden in the frame. But there is nothing sad about this - it is totally delightful to my eye. It comes with another unpictured alphabet sampler by Lucy Thorndyke, Horncastle N School 1811 and for the two the estimate is £250-£300. Click here for more details.

Another lovely sampler is this by Elizabeth Lowe and dated 1739, with the alphabet and numbers, Biblical text and family names all worked with borders of trailing foliage and flower heads, set into an ebonised frame and glazed, measuring 35.5cm x 31.5cm. It is lot 74 for auction at Dreweatts Donnington Priory Salerooms, Newbury, on 12/13 March and comes with an estimate of £500-£800. Click here for more details.

This is lot 1651 for sale on 14 March at Bamfords Auctioneers, Derby. It is described as: A 19th century rectangular needlework sampler, Elizabeth Shenton, her work, embroidered in coloured threads with alphabet, Arabic numerals, scrolling foliage and verse, 32cm x 32cm. It is undated and it looks early 19th century, if not 18th century. It comes with an estimate of £80 - £120. Click here for more details.