{"product_id":"josephine-violet-1891-antique-french-sampler","title":"Antique French Redwork Sampler by Josephine Violet, 1891 | Rose Border \u0026 Alphabet","description":"\u003ch2\u003eA Radiant French Redwork Sampler, Stitched at Age Eight\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1891, eight-year-old Josephine Violet sat down with needle and silk thread and created something extraordinary. This antique French sampler is a testament to the rigorous needlework education of late 19th century France — and to the remarkable talent of one very young girl from the heart of the Loire Valley.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Maker: Josephine Violet 1891\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJosephine was born on 24 September 1882 in Oulches, Indre, Centre-Val de Loire, France, the daughter of Etienne Violet and Louise Feignon. She stitched this sampler in 1891 at just eight years old — an age at which most children were still mastering their letters, not immortalising them in silk.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Sampler\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat makes this piece truly special is its combination of technical accomplishment and visual beauty:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMultiple rows of alphabet lettering,\u003c\/strong\u003e including both print and cursive script a hallmark of school samplers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA vibrant rose border, \u003c\/strong\u003ethe defining feature of this piece, bold and beautifully executed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSilk threads with exceptional color retention,\u003c\/strong\u003e as vivid and lustrous today as when Josephine first laid them down over 130 years ago\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStunning overall composition,\u003c\/strong\u003e balanced, confident, and far beyond what one might expect from a child of eight\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDetails\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 15\" × 17\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1891\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Oulches, Indre, Centre-Val de Loire, France\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTechnique:\u003c\/strong\u003e Redwork embroidery with silk thread\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStyle:\u003c\/strong\u003e French school sampler with alphabet rows and floral border\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA rare and joyful piece of French needlework history, full of color, life, and the pride of a little girl who stitched her very best.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Wishing Thorn","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45205094039734,"sku":null,"price":400.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0558\/0318\/3286\/files\/Violet1.jpg?v=1782073030","url":"https:\/\/thewishingthorn.com\/products\/josephine-violet-1891-antique-french-sampler","provider":"The Wishing Thorn","version":"1.0","type":"link"}