A Present From Your Mother & Other Embroideries @ Auction

Having spent many years now examining samplers close up, I always suspected that a proportion of them were not stitched by girls but by more mature women. Some samplers by women are clearly identified and this is one of them. I think it is such a lovely present for a child and I hope we are still making them!

This sampler is one of three for auction at Peter Wilson's Gallery Sale on 17 October 2013. It is Lot 44 and has an estimate of £50 - £100. Please note the stepping deer in the cartouches on the sampler to the right - is this another Norfolk School Sampler? Click here for more auction details.

In Germany at the Galerie Bassenge in Berlin-Grunewald is this fabulous embroidered book of the 1630s. It is English and is The Book of Common Prayer (London, Norton & Bill, 1629) stitched back to back with The Whole Book of Psalms (London, Companion of Stationers, 1630) and The New Testament ( Cambridge, by the Printers to the University, 1628) It measures just 11cm (approx. 4.5") x 5.5 cm (approx. 2").

It is stitched in coloured thread with gold and silver work. One side is worked in cross stitch, the other in satin stitch. It is Lot 1180 for auction beginning 16 October 2013 and has an estimate of €8,500. For more details of this action, click here.

Lot 198 for sale at Dreweatts of Donnington on 23 October 2013 is a George III embroidered Map of the World, dated 1803, and signed: Worked by Catharine Martin. It is in a later frame and measures 47.5cm x 79cm (approximately 19" x 40"). For more details, click here.

One of the several samplers in Tennant's of Leyburn Auction on 19 October 2013 is Lot 1269, a depiction of the West Front of York Minster with an estimate of £100 - £150. I thought some of you might be reminded of visits there. This 19th century sampler of York Minster worked in red cross stitch was worked by Milisent Roberts aged 18. It is in a modern frame and measures 63cm by 61cm (approximately 25" square). My reason for finding this an interesting sampler - its subject matter apart - is because of the stylized depiction of the pinnacles. These resemble very much the ones seen on sampler depictions of Solomon's Temples where there has been much debate whether these feathered roof embellishments were signifying lightening conductors. Perhaps this was a standardized design for pinnacles... mmm? For more details of this auction, click here.