Victorian needlework 'CV' sampler sells at auction

A rare Victorian needlework sampler has sold at auction for £3,200.

The artefact, which 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, was sold at Bath's Auctioneum saleroom earlier.

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

Auctioneer Annie Cope-Mew described the sampler as "a significant part of Bristol's history".

The sampler belonged to the same Bristol family for three generations, but they did not know how it came into their possession.

Suzanne Holgate said the family decided to sell the historical piece following the death of her mother-in-law.

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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