"Favour is deceitful and beauty is vain but the woman that feareth the Lord shall be praised"• Proverbs 31:30. "O all ye nations of the world praise ye the Lord...". Psalm 117:1 "...I say not land but learn makes man complet..." This is a popular historical rhyming maxim or moral verse often titled "Learning" or "On Learning." Due to the phonetic and varied spelling ("complet," "maks," "wirtv" for virtue), it strongly reflects the idiosyncratic, hand-stitched spelling typical of old samplers. • Meaning: The verse emphasizes that true human worth does not come from material or social status, but from inner wisdom and education. • Education over Property: Intellectual and moral growth ("learn") fulfills a person, not owning land. • Wisdom over Wealth: True greatness comes from inner knowledge, not financial riches. • Virtue over Nobility: A person's character and virtue define their standing, not the status of their birth. • Character over Titles: Personal fortune and happiness are built on wisdom, not societal honors or titles.

Features in "Changing Styles" The Eighteenth Century One Hundred years of Sampler Making" Witney Antiques 2007

Traditional early 18th century long sampler on unbleached linen ground embroidered with blue, green, red and cream silk threads. Narrow borders, with twenty nine separate rows of text, alphabets, numerals, each divided by one or more rows of tent, cross or eyelet stitch. includes Elizabeth's name and date of beginning -19 th day of September 1713 and finishing her sampler - February 28th 1714.

Two texts: "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth. Fear not and keep His commandments for this is your duty of man" Elizabeth Pemble the 19th day of September 1713 " Favour is deceitful and beauty is vain but the woman that feareth the Lord shall be praised" "O all ye nations of the world praise ye the Lord I say not land but larnin makes man complet not wealth but wisdom maks him truly great not birth but breding doth adorn his state wirtv not honnour maks him fortunate" Elizabeth Pemble Elizabeth Pemble February the 28th 1714

sampler, england, childs

This verse is a traditional poem or inscription historically dedicated to the art of needlework, embroidery, and samplers. In the 18th and 19th centuries, young girls frequently stitched verses like this onto their school room samplers to demonstrate both their needlework skills and their virtuous upbringing. The verse encourages young women to use their hands with unmatched skill to master the needle (embroidery) and honor the quill (writing or drawing designs). This text belongs to a genre of anonymous "sampler verses" widely used in the 1700s and 1800s. These verses were often distributed by schoolmistresses or printed in specialized instruction manuals to serve a dual purpose: moral instruction and literacy practice. The earliest recorded physical evidence of this exact verse appears on an English needlework sampler stitched by a girl named Ann Luty in 1788, at the age of 13.

Traditional child's sampler on ecru linen embroidered in a variety of coloured silks and stitches. External border in a traditional strawberry design. Ornate dividing bands separate the alphabet, numerous floral and tree motifs. Large bottom panel depicts two men carrying a sedan chair or 'litter' with person inside. Identical motifs embroidered either side of trees, dogs, flowers and birds. Two small crowns either side of the cartouche with maker's name and date.

"Young ladies for whom gentle minds incline To all that's curious innocent and fine With admiration in your works are read The various textures of the winding thread Then let your fingers with unrivalled skill Exalt the needle grace the noble quill" Elizabeth May Nov 13 1810 Aged 8

sampler, england, childs

Period characteristics: Missing letters - the exclusion of 'J' and 'U' was standard in Latin Alphabet typography and carried heavily into educational samplers through the 19th century. Horizontally arranged bands of letters and text separated by geometric borders was a simpler band composition in older educational templates.

Traditional child's sampler on coarse ecru linen embroidered in a variety of coloured stitches. Two alphabets, the larger embroidered in eyelet stitch. Lower band has a tree flanked by peacocks.

Elizabeth Lees her work in 1795

sampler, england, childs

Period characteristics: Missing letters - the exclusion of 'J' and 'U' was standard in Latin Alphabet typography and carried heavily into educational samplers through the 19th century. Horizontally arranged bands of letters and text separated by geometric borders was a simpler band composition in older educational templates. Crown motifs can serve several purposes: Loyalty to the Monarchy - allegiance to the reigning King or Queen was especially prominent in British, Scottish and Dutch traditional samplers. Religious devotion - spiritually crowns represented 'Crown of Life' or the 'Crown of Righteousness' mentioned in the Bible, signifying eternal reward, fidelity and spiritual virtue. Family hierarchy and status - different style of crowns and coronets symbolized specific ranks of nobility. They may be incorporated to represent family heritage. Linen marking practice - alphabet samplers were used to practice marking household linens. Small crowns alongside initials indicate the status or lineage belonging to the owner of the linens.

Traditional Scottish child's sampler on ecru linen embroidered with green and red threads. Narrow borders, worked in a variety of stitches, separates the alphabet, numbers and initials. Cross stitch, eyelet and four sided stitch are used. Lower row of crowns and coronets and initials.

Janet Ness Aged 11 1818

sampler, england, childs

The first text is the opening verse of a highly popular, traditional needlework sampler poem from the 18th and 19th centuries. The verse is most widely attributed to the Reverend John Newton (1725–1807), the famous English cleric, abolitionist, and author of the hymn "Amazing Grace". He is believed to have written this specific petition for his niece, Elizabeth Catlitt. It gained massive popularity after being published in The Evangelical Magazine in May 1798. Young girls throughout the UK and the United States frequently embroidered this prayer onto their marking samplers to demonstrate their growing skills in needlework, literacy, and piety. The second verse lines are from the Christmas hymn "What Words! What Voices Can We Bring?", written for Christmas Day with words of unknown origin and music composed by William Knapp (1698–1768).

Traditional child's sampler on ecru linen embroidered in a variety of coloured silks and stitches. External border in a traditional carnation design. Ornate dividing bands separate the alphabet, verses, a house with numerous floral, bird and deer motifs. Large bottom panel depicts a windmill with identical motifs embroidered either side of flowers and birds.

"Jesus permit thy gracious name to stand To the first efforts of a youthful hand That while her fingers on the canvas move Engage her tender thoughts to seek thy love" "What words what voices can we bring. Which way our accents raise. To welcome the mysterious King. And sing a Saviour s praise. O tis too little all we can. For this unbounded love. All that was ever Wrote by man Or sung In hymns above". Sarah Ann Verrall 1823

sampler, england, childs

Traditional child's sampler on fine cream linen embroidered in a variety of coloured silks and stitches. Small external border in a traditional design. Large house with numerous floral, birds, squirrel, butterflies motifs. Large bottom panel depicts Adam and Eve flanked by identical motifs embroidered either side of trees, flowers and birds.

Lower cartouche "Elizabeth Church Her Work 1838"

sampler, england, childs

This excerpt is the final stanza of the classic poem and hymn "The Spacious Firmament on High" (often titled Ode or Ode to Creation), written by English essayist and poet Joseph Addison in 1712. • Inspiration: Based closely on Psalm 19:1–6 ("The heavens declare the glory of God..."). • Meaning: The poem reflects Enlightenment-era natural theology, arguing that even though the planets and stars move through the silent vacuum of space without literal spoken words or sound, their orderly mathematical precision speaks to human reason as a silent, eternal song praising their Creator.

Traditional child's sampler on ecru linen embroidered in green, red and black threads and stitches. Small external border in a traditional design of strawberries. Alphabet and numbers at top in cream thread. Small border separates a central verse in black with large potted ? wisteria in eyelet stitch. Flanked by two potted flowering trees and smaller tree motifs.

" What though in solemn silence all Move round this dark terrestrial ball What though no real voice nor sound Around their radiant orbs be found In reason's ear they all rejoice and utter forth a glorious voice For ever singing as they shine The hand that made us is divine". Mary Vickers Keswick 1823 Aged 12 Label on reverse - dated 14.11.1935 'Mawson, Swan & Morgan - Picture framers - Newcastle-on-Tyne'

sampler, england, childs

"Against Idleness and Mischief" (often called "How Doth the Little Busy Bee") written by the English hymn-writer Isaac Watts in 1715. Isaac Watts (1674–1748), a famous English minister and poet. The poem uses the industrious honeybee as a moral example for children, urging them to stay active and avoid laziness ("For Satan finds some mischief still / For idle hands to do").

Traditional child's sampler on ecru linen embroidered in a cream, green and brown silks and stitches. External border in a traditional olive green floral design. Ornate dividing bands separate the alphabet, verse, floral, bird and deer motifs. Large carnation in vase at bottom is flanked by two cartouche with name and age and small verse.

"In books or work or healthful play Let my first years be past That I may give for every day Some good account at last". Mary Manning Aged 9 years 1824 "Youth is the Season for Improvement"

sampler, england, childs

Donor's family believe it to be Danish.

Traditional child's sampler on brown linen embroidered in pale aqua/green alphabets in cross stitch and eyelet stitch. Separated by floral and geometric borders.

Fanny Nielsen 1893

sampler, england, childs