Early 19th Century Schoolgirl Sampler by Louisa Boone, Aged 9 Years












Early 19th Century Schoolgirl Sampler by Louisa Boone, Aged 9 Years
A charming early 19th century embroidered sampler worked in coloured silks on linen by Louisa Boone, who proudly stitched her name and age within a decorative cartouche: "Louisa Boone Her Work Aged 9 Years."
The sampler features upper and lower case alphabets, numbers, decorative borders, flower baskets, stylised trees, a pair of birds and a tiny ladybird, together with a moral verse encouraging the wise use of time and the pursuit of knowledge. The soft faded palette of dusty pinks, blue-greens and warm creams has mellowed beautifully with age.
An evocative piece of needlework that offers a glimpse into the education and accomplishments of a young girl nearly two centuries ago.
Condition
Presented unframed.
There are areas of age-related wear and loss to the linen ground, particularly around sections of the alphabet and numerals, as shown in the photographs. The sampler remains stable overall and displays beautifully despite these imperfections. Gentle fading, minor marks and unevenness consistent with age should be expected.
Measurements
Approx. 33 x 34 cm
Date
Circa 1820-1850
A wonderfully decorative and highly collectible piece of early textile history, equally suited to framing or inclusion within a textile collection.