A week when I come home with an old darning sampler is a good week for me, and indeed, I'm loathe to part with this wonderfully colorful one, which includes an alphabet and 1-9 plus 0, too. (I especially love the way the "Y" was done, like an H with a little tail.) 19th century I believe and I might guess German, though it can be a bit hard to tell with these--the linen looks homespun to me. I love very fine, very formal 18th/early 19th century Dutch examples executed in fine silk thread, but maybe even more so a much looser, folkier, practice (rather than showcase) example like this, with a couple of fancy but in large part very utilitarian darns represented.
11 1/4" x 9" framed, as found, under glass in an old old wooden black stained frame. I've tried to get as close as possible to actual color here. Overall good condition, no holes, not fragile, edges hemmed, easily removed from the frame (not attached to any backing.) Linen shows general toning and a few slightly darker stains, as documented. A couple of pieces of cardboard/mat backing, wired for hanging.
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