1825 Mary Barnes sampler worked at Oundle School UK SOLD

Mary Barnes’ charming classic schoolgirl sampler was worked at Oundle School (still in operation as a boarding and day-school!) in the ancient market town of Oundle in Northhamptonshire England. It has been in operation since 1556, and is the 3rd largest boarding school in England. Mary was a student there and stitched her sampler in 1825. School samplers are a collectors’ category all their own, and I’ve never seen another example from this school.

The condition is quite good with some stitch loss, visible in the close-up photos. The dye used for the dark brown wool thread was extremely corrosive and often caused extreme deterioration of the thread, or dark staining of the ground fabric, but Mary’s sampler has escaped those fates. This sampler is worked in simple cross stitches over 2 threads throughout with a row of lacy, openwork hemstitch outside the scallop border.

The visible embroidered area measures about 10-1/2″ square, with the frame measuring 11-1/2″ square. The solid light wood frame has a gilded filet and is probably 30-40 years old; it’s in good condition, ready to hang. The back has two metal eyelets with cord stretched between them.

SOLD