Old Samplers

Try eBay. They have a lot and most of them seem to be authentic. I have bought several, some at excellent prices. Check for good feedback, read all the descriptions, look at the photos and ask for more if you don't see enough. And also check for any guarantees the seller may offer. I think you will find something there.

Pat > I love to watch Antiques Roadshow' My favourite part is when they bring

Be very cautious - people have collected them for quite awhile now and prices on the genuine article are very high. I am fortunate, I have one done by my great-grandmother in 1853 though she clearly did not enjoy stitching very much and carried threads all over the place lol Still, it is nice to know she handled it and spent some time with it. I never knew her.

If you see any be aware that with the help of tea a very genuine looking sampler can be created !

Several people I know have bought them on ebay but they are very expensive now. The main thing to be careful of is that I have seen "reproduction antique samplers" for sale on ebay too. In fact, I have stitched a couple that I have seen on ebay in the past few months where the seller is saying it's an antique sampler. They have old date and name on them since that's what reproductions are all about. If they are "too good" of shape, I would question it.

BTW, I have started putting a line on my reproductions that give the actually date stitched and my name or initals.

Anna

As a follow-up to my previous message about ebay, I have just received another sampler dated 1834. Absolutely authentic and very lovely, but there are condition issues since it has been tacked around the edge to a thin board for many years and has some water staining. That doesn't bother me but it is a definite no-no to purist collectors. But then again, I didn't pay anything like purist collector price!

All conditions were discussed between myself and the seller before the auction closed so there were no surprises. And it arrived in great shape and is exactly as advertised. Ebay can be a great source, but read everything, ask lots of questions, and don't assume anything!

Pat in Illinos

I know one of the websites I reviewed for my column was selling antique samplers, but it was very much a case of "if you have to ask, you can't afford it".

If you really mean to spend US$400 and up, I'll see if I can locate the column.

Thanks for all the tips and things to watch out for! Man, to think someone would be so slimey as to pour tea over a needlework. :( As for paying the big bucks....can't do it. If I had upwards of $400. U.S. to spare for needlework, it would go for supplies for things I could stitch! I'll head for Cloverdale next. They are known as the antique capital of the province. Maybe I'll luck out and the shop owner won't know what I prize they have in needlework? LOL Thanks again,

Maureen

Karen C - California wrote:

I love the look of the antique samplers as well but since I will likely never be able to afford one I found this great website that sells charts to antique reproduction samplers I want to stitch one someday but there are so many I can't decide which one to stitch!

is the site incase anyone is interested-Shannon

Wyndham Needleworks is one of my favorites too. Lydia is very helpful and very dependable and she only charges what it costs to ship it.

Two others which do reproductions (if they haven't already been mentioned) are The Essamplaire

and Scarlet Letter I believe those are the correct links. If the website doesn't come up, just google the shop's name with the work needlework and they come right up.

Anna

Thanks for those great links Anna! Now I really will never be able to choose just one reproduction to stitch!

Those designs are so beautiful and intricate it's hard to believe they were done by young girls. I swear I should have been born in the 19th century lol.

-Shannon