Bonhams Samplers * 23 November 2011 * Edinburgh

There is a delightful set of architectural themed Scottish samplers coming up for auction in November in Glasgow. This first 19th century sampler by Margaret Watson of Linlithgow worked when she was 9 years old is Lot 19 with an estimate of £600 - 800. It features a Georgian style house and garden, the lawn worked in chenille, flanked by parrots and urns issuing flowers, the upper section centred by a cartouche with the words, 'The eyes of the Lord are in every place. beholding the evil and the good', on either side are two octagonal medallions bearing the arms of Linlithgow and the arms of Scotland, all within a uniform stylised foliate border. It measures 31cm wide, 37.5cm high (12" wide, 14.5" high) (Signed to the bottom, Margaret Watson aged 9 years.)

Lot no 20 above is a George IV sampler stitched by Agnes Thomson in 1826. It is worked in coloured silks on a linen ground, centred by an elaborate depiction of a castellated house with letters of the alphabet and those characteristic paired family names and initials - much like Frisian samplers - peacocks and that particular quincunx of flowers issuing from an urn, seal this sampler as Scottish . Framed it measures 53cm wide, 42cm high (20.5" wide, 16.5" high)and has an estimate of £300 - 400.

Janet Young of Glasgow dated her sampler April 22nd 1828. Central is a Tudor style mansion, flanked by images of peacocks, fruit trees, urns issuing flowers, rabbits and bowls of fruit, surmounted by a inspirational stanza, the lower section worked with letters of the alphabet and numbers within a stylized foliate border. it is lot 22 and measures 31.5cm wide, 41cm high (12" wide, 16" high) and comes with an estimate of £600 - 800. For more details click here. Remember you will need to register before you can bid. Allow yourself plenty of time to make the necessary contacts to avoid disappointment. Good luck!

Verulamium Museum Samplers On-Line

Verulamium is the Latin name for St Alban's, a great town with a fabulous cathedral (and cathedral refectory for home-cooked, friendly lunches) in Hertfordshire. If you plan to visit Hatfield House on one of your trips, don't forget a bit of shopping in the town which has many attractive shops. Although the Verulamium Museum in St Albans, UK is famous for its collection of Roman artifacts - it does have a small textile collection including samplers, which thanks to Lottery Funding is now being made available on-line. I particularly liked this sampler commenced by Elizabeth Dun in March 1723 and completed by Ann Dun in August 1723 - a case of many hands make light work?

Just click on the link here to reach the Search Screen. Then choose Social History in the drop down box for Collections followed by Textiles in the drop down box for Sub Collection then press the Search Box.

There is also this dear little stitched watch cloth which you can see below.

Embroidered in China for the 18th Century Dutch Woman of Fashion

In passing I came across a fascinating article in the Gemeente Museum in the Hague. Upper class women's gowns in the third quarter of the 18th century usually consisted of a long skirt with a petticoat. However, such Netherlandish families who were connected by marriage to the English tended to wear the mantua. Starting in the early 17th century, it continued to be worn for special and gala occasions, for example, as a bridal dress. The mantua consisted of an overgown which was draped over a decorated underskirt. This particular white satin mantua was actually embroidered on-demand in China to European patterns. In this respect, it recalls very much the process by which imported porcelain from China was decorated to order in China again to patterns specified by the European importers. And it is probable, in their turn, that home embroiderers in the Netherlands and Britain were influenced and inspired by the Chinese embroidery skills and techniques.

Cath Kidston Make & Sew Booklets Winner

And the winner of this week's draw is Lilian from Milan. Thank you to everyone who participated, there will be more give aways soon.