19th Century Needlepoint Sampler with Parrot, Pistols, and Fleur de Lis folding box Wear at upper left corner

Wear at upper left corner

and a bit of staining on the interior

with the holes in the centers about the diameter of pencil (I used one to quickly unwind then rewind one of the reels

and there must once have been a crank mechanism that this "wheel" connected to

He can balance on his own in a seated position

19th Century Needlepoint Sampler with Parrot, Pistols, and Fleur de Lis folding box Wear at upper left cornerForgive my not so great photos of this terrific antique sampler, finely executed by a Caroline Waldimand (or perhaps Haldimand), age 9, in the mid 1800s I believe. As there is an unfinished edge across the top, it seems possible this was once a larger piece, perhaps with with an alphabet above, now lost. The fleur de lis at center makes me think perhaps Caroline was Canadian, and I have found mention of some Waldimand and Haldimands both in the