A WELSH NEEDLEWORK SAMPLER

A WELSH NEEDLEWORK SAMPLER

ANONYMOUS, DATED '1800'

worked on a course linen with various creatures including two muntjac deer, a dragon, urns of flowers and with a central exotic bird flanked by two identical females holding birds associated with the ladies of Llangollen, in a later glazed gilt and ebonised frame

30.7 x 27.8cm

Provenance

Upper Slaughter Manor, The Collection of Micheál and Elizabeth Feller.

Literature

The Feller Needlework Collection: 2, p.149 for a discussion of this sampler.

Catalogue Note

The Two Ladies of Llangollen were Lady Eleanor Butler and Miss Sarah Ponsonby. Both were born in County Kilkeny and although their families disapproved they developed an intimate relationship. SO they eloped to Wales together and set up home at Plas Newydd, where they created a beautiful garden. Writers such as Wordsworth and Sir Walter Scott visited them.