Antique Victorian Needlepoint Embroidery Sampler Panel, Girls w Letter, No Frame portrait mininature boxes with pietra dura plaques

boxes with pietra dura plaques - ones similar to this one

The handles all have the seashell or "coquille" pattern

The frame is close to excellent

The measurements are noted on our photos

and the stone is brilliantly cut

Antique Victorian Needlepoint Embroidery Sampler Panel, Girls w Letter, No Frame portrait mininature boxes with pietra dura plaquesThis 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