Unsurprisingly, samplers proved the most popular buys and the top seller of the 734-lot catalogue was an example dating from 1837, the first year of Queen Victoria’s reign.
The piece had green, pink, cream and brown panels, the central one of a house bearing a sign Ladies Establishment and surrounded by a shepherd and shepherdess with trees, a fence and a windmill.
The bottom panel had the name Miriam Sarah Susannah Chapman, Aged 8 years, May 11 1837. The whole 161/2 by 121/2in (42 x 32cm) piece was surrounded by a broad border of trailing roses with leaf spandrels and in a gilt slip and rosewood veneered frame. In good condition considering its age, and with hopes of £1500, it took £4900.
Following this success an unframed 17th century sampler, 13 by 6in (34 x 15.5cm), decorated with the alphabet, bands of acorns and panels of flowers had small unfinished areas and some minor faults but got away well over estimate at £2900.
Work boxes also sold well, in particular a fine French Palais Royal satinwood example. Featuring ivory fittings and a mother-of-pearl central cartouche, it had a fully fitted interior, contained the bulk of the original fixtures such as silk winders, and an ivory tambour hook. Against an £800-1200 estimate it took £1250.
Another fascinating piece was a miniature sewing companion formed from a Spanish walnut. Just 2in (5.5cm) high, the companion opened to reveal a blue silk lined lid over an engraved silvered tool mount with a full complement of miniature tools like tweezers, a manicure and scissors.
Bonhams, Knowle, December 13
Buyer’s premium: 15 per cent
Samplers sew up major interest at needlework specialist sale
THE Midlands branch of Bonhams is the clearing house for all sewing pieces offered to the empire’s rooms and showed its worth at this specialist sale on 13 December.
