Victorian needlework sampler could fetch thousands

A rare Victorian needlework sampler could fetch thousands of pounds when it is sold this week, auctioneers say.

It was made by an orphan called Dora who lived at one of George Müller's five pioneering New Orphan Homes in Bristol in the 19th Century.

The sampler was a 'sewing CV' - shown to potential employers to showcase the individual's skills and the red stitching and cream background was common at Müller's homes.

Auctioneer Annie Cope-Mew described the sampler, which will be auctioned at Bath's Auctioneum saleroom, as "a significant part of Bristol's history", and it carries a pre-sale estimate of £1,000 to £2,000.

"The stories behind many of the young girls making these is heart-breaking, but this sampler is a representation of their hopes, their dreams and their futures," Cope-Mew added.

"It was the ultimate CV, proving to a future employer that they had the necessary skills for domestic employment - the usual path for girls of sixteen to eighteen after leaving the orphanage."

The sampler has belonged to the same Bristol family, the Holgates, for three generations.

Suzanne Holgate said it was being sold following the death of her mother-in-law.

"Unfortunately we don't know how it came to be in [husband] Rob's family," she said.

"Did they buy it, or was 'Dora' a relative or maybe worked for them when she left the orphanage?

"We did some research with the Müller Trust, but there are a lot of 'Doras' and we have no surname."

George Müller's orphanages gave a home and education to more than 10,000 children in Bristol during his lifetime.

They housed thousands more before the last one closed in the 1950s.

The George Müller Museum opened in Bristol in 2019.

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