Antique Sampler, c.1850, by Elizabeth Carter, Sussex

Victorian Sampler, c.1850, by Elizabeth Carter. The sampler is worked in wool and silk threads on a linen ground, mainly in cross stitch. Meandering floral border. Colours green, red, yellow, silver, black, pink, grey and blue. Multiple alphabets A-Z in upper case and lower case, numbers 1-24, family initials, and Roman numerals. Signed 'Elizabeth Carter Aged 12 Alciston. Sussex.' Placename Alciston is a village in England. A scattering of motifs, including fruit baskets, crowns, horses and a bible. Framed in a modern maple frame with glass. Mounting: The sampler is fixed to board. Frame backed with wood and sealed with tape. N.B - What makes the piece especially interesting is its strong resemblance to the celebrated Bristol Orphan House samplers. The multiple alphabets in differing fonts, Bible motif, horse motifs and highly structured layout all echo features commonly associated with Bristol examples, despite this sampler being clearly signed to Alciston, Sussex. It offers an intriguing insight into the spread of sampler patterns and teaching methods during the Victorian period.. Dimensions exclude the frame and slip.