ENGLISH "SCHOOL" NEEDLEWORK SAMPLER (c. 1819 ENGLISH)

13.50inch wide    17.50inch high    (34.29 cm wide  44.45 cm high)

An early 19th century English sampler, worked by Charlotte Pugh, with some unusual features, including the name of Charlotte's school (Wolvey, Warwickshire), and a stylised tree with the initials of either friends or family members at the end of the branches (a "friendship" tree).

Charlotte has worked the following at the bottom of the sampler :

"Charlotte Pugh her Work Finished April 9th 1819 in her 9th Year Wolvey School Warwickshire near Hinckley Charlotte P"

The sampler is worked with the alphabet, a motto, and varied motifs, including no fewer than 14 birds, and many types of stylised flowers, including bluebell, thistle, tulip, daisy. The dominant colours are dark yellow and blue-green, but a range of other more subtle colours is also used, including pale blue, yellow, pink, pale gold, blue-green, black, white. For example, on the thistle flowers, there are bands of pale pink, yellow and white. There is further information about Charlotte and her family, written at a later date, on the backboard of the sampler.