18th Century Pocket Watch Sampler Pair in Hair Work and Paste Work Needle Lace Circa 1790 AF VERY RARE

An extremely rare discovery of two 1700s pocket watch samplers. Both later framed, in our opinion rather crudely considering the very special and fragile nature of these rarities. They are adhered to the cream fabric backing, it looks like fabric glue was used which may be reversable, but we cannot guarantee.

Pocket watch samplers were a popular gifting idea in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Small circles of fabric were embroidered and given as gifts, often to a loved one who could then store this little sampler inside the back of their pocket watch. It was a win, win gift as the fabric protected the inner workings of the watch a little, and every time the owner checked the time he would be reminded of his loved one. These pocket watch inserts came in many forms from pre-printed silk inserts to needlework samplers, silk embroidered designs and later on pre-printed watch papers. Original needlework examples are becoming so very hard to discover, you can imagine that our hearts missed a beat when we saw two of them together!!

The top pocket watch sampler dates to the 1780s-1800 period. We see a teeny, little en grisaille bucolic scene worked in black silk and HAIR. The monochrome scene is to imitate a printed engraving from this period; at first glance you may mistake it for one. We see a farm hand and his wife/partner who have just finished reaping the corn. She is resting on the ground with her pitchfork behind her, he is standing holding his curved sickle, scythe. The detailing is exquisite when you look up close, clouds in the sky, doors and windows on the barn or farm building, costume details such as Bergere hat, shoes, and breeches!! The icing on the cake is the real hair in a shade of brown used for the barn roof! The edging running around the circumference is also HAIR in a very dark brown!

The bottom watch pocket sampler is even more rare. In my 30 years of selling antiques, this is only the third example of a paste work sampler that I have seen (two of which I have retailed incl this one). It is sadly in very tired condition, if you want pristine, respectfully this is not for you. Due to the ageing, we cannot decipher the words but still a lovely, lovely discovery. At a glance this appears to be a needle lace sampler but on close inspection you will see the utter charm of this little wonder. It is a sampler worked on the finest gauze ground, but no silk thread used here, instead each stitch equivalent is an infill of white paste in each of the cells of the gauze. Can you imagine the diligence, eyesight and skill required to make this TINY watch sampler?

Size: Frame 8 1/4 inch tall by 7 1/2 inch wide (21 cm by 19 cm). Actual pocket watch samplers Top 1 5/8-inch diameter (4.2 cm), bottom sampler 1 7/8 inch diameter (4.5 cm)

Condition: As mentioned currently stuck to the fabric background. The top en grisaille silk sampler is in very good, sound condition. The bottom paste watch sampler is in poor condition. A very old split and folding to the middle section now renders the original wording pretty difficult to read, maybe Prosper and ???, or Proverbs and ???

A superb pair of survivors, a major coup for the early needlework collector.

Item id:16294