Antique Victorian Needlepoint Embroidery Sampler Panel, Girls w Letter, No Frame portrait mininature The handles all have the

The handles all have the seashell or "coquille" pattern

There are really very few flaws

The opulent engraved work on the blade of the letter opener makes it a work of art

and is 4" deep

Antique Victorian Needlepoint Embroidery Sampler Panel, Girls w Letter, No Frame portrait mininature The handles all have theThis is a c. 1830s hand worked sampler in wool and silk yarns, very early Victorian needlepoint. The figural representation is of 2 young women sharing a letter, obviously a love letter. The special box it's arrived in might suggest it is a proposal. Quite often these needlepoints have been "after" a painting. But at listing, I'm not finding it. "The Letter" is a theme often painted, and represents all manner of emotion from love to loss to