1789 German band sampler w/ religious motifs 10″ wide by 42″ long

Very rare dated 1789 German long band sampler depicting Christian religious scenes (including the crucifixion) and filled with dozens of additional motifs, including a swan, a stag, a peacock, a ram, a black cockerel and the double-headed eagle. The date appears in the floral cartouche near the top of the sampler along with initials (possibly T I E L). Silk thread on slubby linen fabric.

It measures 10″ wide by 42″ long, and is unframed but finished on all four sides  . Color retention of the silk is very good. I don’t find any holes in the ground fabric and the only stitch loss appears in motifs worked with the black-brown silk thread which also appears slightly thinner than other colors, most likely from the corrosive nature of the dye. There are a couple of brownish spots and some discoloration along the edges but otherwise, the condition is exceptional. The fabric is soft and supple with no trace of brittleness. There are some very small splits along the bottom selvedge edge. The long sides have been finished with a neat, narrow hem and the short sides (the top and bottom) are the original woven selvedge.

A wonderful example of needlework history. A signature will be required at delivery and insurance is included in the price. Shipping will be billed separately for overseas customers.