Mary Ann Shead, “The Great Exhibition”, High Laver, Essex, England, 1854
Sale Price: $2000 Original Price: $2500, Sampler size: 19" x 17"
Framed size:
24" x 22"

Mary Ann Shead stitched her outstanding rendition of the Crystal Palace in 1854, just three years later than The Great Exhibition of All Nations, for which this building was erected. The Great Exhibition, held in Hyde Park in 1851, was the first of these international fairs. "These 'World Fairs' offered an irresistible opportunity to enhance national pride and to celebrate progress in the realms of technology, manufacturing, design and the fine and decorative arts," (Simon Cottle, Sotheby's sale catalogue, London 31 October 2006).

Although Miss Shead lived in High Laver, Essex, she was likely asked by her instructress to depict a well-known building on her sampler. Mary Ann worked her tight red stitches onto a very fine wool ground. She stitched fine decorative alphabets, a Biblical verse flanked by potted flowers, and excellent detail to the structure of this enormous building, including the rows of flags. On either side of Crystal Palace is the initials V and R with a crown, signifying Queen Victoria. Mary Ann stitched a neat leafy vine as a border for her work.

Worked in silk on wool this sampler is in good condition with many tiny holes to the wool. It has been conservation mounted into its fine original bird's eye maple frame.