Bristol orphanage Victorian needlework sampler - Late 19th century sampler from The New Orphan Houses (George Müller Homes), Ashley Down, Bristol, dated 1886 by Emily Eastman, worked in red petit-point on a cream ground with upper and lower case alphabet registers in various script over an arrangement of pictorial and geometric motifs, including a bible, anchor, bird perched on a branch, floral sprigs and ‘E Eastman, Bristol, Age 16 1886’, 30cm x 24.8cm, on later card backing framed under glass

From the Collection of Bristol 1904 Arts (formerly 'Bristol Savages').

Emily Sarah Eastman was admitted to the Muller Orphanage on 25^th July 1877. Her admission number was A5076.

The Muller Homes trained girls for a future in domestic service and the 1891 census finds Emily working as a servant at a house in Hereford. By 1901 she had returned to Bristol and had entered into service for the family of a tobacco merchant at 2 Edgecumbe Road, Redland. Emily must have enjoyed a happy relationship with her employers as both the 1911 and 1921 census returns show her with the same family. She passed away on 8^th January 1927 and is buried in Canford cemetery, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol.

Clevedon Salerooms gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the George Müller Museum, Bristol for their assistance in preparing this catalogue entry.