Samplings: VIII

SAMPLINGS: A selected offering of antique samplers and needlework

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M. Finkel ~ Daughter. established 1947 Antiques Dealers and Appraisers P1e riod Furniture • Antique Samplers • Early Textiles Textile Restoration

936 Pine Street Philadelphia Pennsylvania 19107 1?215 • 627 • 7797

fax 215 • 627 • 8199

VOLUME VIII

Cover Illustration:

Detail of Hellen Crawford, 1835. Page 1 photography by Will Brown

MEMBER

DDDDDDDD Copyright Š 1995 by M. Finkel & Daughter, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without permission in writing from M. Finkel & Daughter, Inc., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Samplings ....volume VIII As is clear from this catalogue, we are very interested in and knowledgeable about samplers and needlework dating from the 18th to mid 19th centuries. Most of these pieces are American and, in keeping with the field in general, were worked by schoolgirls under the guidance of schoolmistresses. We search for examples that represent excellence in needlework and are in fine condition. Because of the importance of provenance and documentation in this field, we turn to our ever-increasing sources to conduct research.

From a simple marking sampler to a rare and important needlework picture, each offering is a reflection of our knowledge and dedication.

The selected bibliography included at the end of the catalogue is regularly updated and we refer to some of the books as they pertain to specific samplers. If any of these books prove difficult to procure, let us know and perhaps we can assist in locating them.

Our firm was established in 1947, and we have been in the same location for 48 years. We like to think that our positive relationship with clients, many of whom are now second generation, is because of our commitment to customer satisfaction. Buying antiques should be based in large measure on trust and confidence, and we try to treat each customer as we ourselves like to be treated. We operate by appointment and are at the shop five days a week, except when we are exhibiting at an out-of-town antiques show.

Please let us know of your plans to visit us.

Every item in this catalogue is guaranteed to be authentic and original, and you can rely on our expertise in describing each piece as to age and condition. Most of the samplers are described as being "conservation mounted," and where this is noted, the work has been done by our own TEXTILE RESTORATION DEPARTMENT. A description of the step-by-step process can be found at the end of this catalogue along with other information about our restoration services.

All merchandise is offered subject to prior sale. Should your first choice be unavailable, we urge you to discuss your collecting objectives with either Amy or Morris Finkel or Nancy Shore. Our inventory is extensive, and we have many items not included in our catalogue. Moreover, through our sources, we can often locate the sampler that you are looking for; you will find us knowledgeable and helpful.

Payment may be made by check, VISA, Mastercard, or American Express, and we ask for payment with your order. Pennsylvania residents should add 6% sales tax. All items are sold with a five day return privilege. Expert packing is included; shipping and insurance costs are extra. We prefer to ship via UPS second day air or Federal Express, insured. When you order, we can tell you the cost for shipping and insurance.

Amy Finkel Morris Finkel Nancy Shore Are you interested in selling? We are constantly purchasing antique samplers and needlework and would like to know what you have for sale. We can purchase outright or act as your agent. Photographs sent to us will receive our prompt attention.

Call us at 215-627-7797 for more information.

M. Finkel e; Daughter. established 1947 Antiques Dealers and Appraisers Period Furniture • Antigue Samplers • Early Textiles Textile Restoration

936 Pine Street Philadelphia Pennsylvania 19107 ~215

• 627• 7797fax215 • 627 • 8199

ALPHABETICAL LISTING OF CONTENTS Mary Chandler, England, 1842 ...................................................................................................... page 12 Mary Chandler, England, 1842 ........................................................... .................. .. .... ................... page 12 Hellen Crawford, probably Ohio, 1835 ...................... ........................ ........................................... .page 1 Crewel Pocketbook, American, circa 1770 ............................ ............ ......................... ................... page 8 Ruth Dealy, Coal park, England, 1790 ............................................................................................ .page 27 Darning Sampler, H.W., Netherlands, 1788 .................................................................................... page 14 Emblem of America, circa 1810 ................................... .......................... ......................................... page 16 Martha B. Fish, Providence, Rhode Island, circa 1825 .... .......... ....................................... .. ..............page 13 Emeline Hart and Lucy Walton, Enfield Shaker Community, Connecticut, 1847 ............. ..............page 19 Ann Huber, Pennsylvania, 1834 .................................. ....... ........... ..................................................page 22 Mary Jones, England, 1777 .......................................................................................................... ..page 26 Elizabeth Keiser, probably Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 1843 ............................................... .... page 14 Sarah Kimball, Boxford, Massachusetts, 1798 .... .................................................................. ...... ..... page 15 Marianna Kramlich, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, circa 1835 ...................................................... page 9 Abigail Lawrence and Anna Lawrence, Leominster, Massachusetts, 1799 ....................................pages 6 & 7 Julianna Lawrence, Washington City (D.C.), 1830 .... ....................................................... ................ page 21 Margaret McCrackin, Chester County, Pennsylvania, 1815 .............................................. .............. page 5 Sarah Palmer, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, 1768 ...........................................................................page 10 Sarah Hutchinson, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1794 ..................................................................... page 11 Huldah Parmelee, North Killingworth, Connecticut, 1829 ............................................................ page 13 Hannah Phipps, Hopkinton, Massachusetts, 1830 .............................................................. ............. page 4 Ann Pim, Westtown School, Chester County, Pennsylvania, 1804 ........................................ ........... page 3 Rachel Redman, Salem County, New Jersey, 1784 ........................................................................ page 17 Susan Robinson, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1824 ...........................................................................page 24 Ellen Sayers, Brighton, England, 1879 ................ ............................................................. .............page 26 Miranda Skinner, East Hartford, Connecticut, 1832 ............................... ............................ ............. page 23 Edith Spencer, Philadelphia, 1798 .......................... ...................................................................... page 18 Abigail F. Springer, New York, 1829 ...................................... ..........................................................page 25 Margaret Eliza Sturrup, probably Burlington County, New Jersey, 1811 .............. ... ......................... page 2 Catherine Taylor, England, circa 1810 .......................................................................................... page 27 Sarah Taylor, England, May 1, 1855 ................................................................................................page 8 White Dove school, Deerfield area, Massachusetts, circa 1810 ....... .................................................. page 22 Louisa D. Whittelesey, Farmington, Connecticut, 1838 ................... ................... ............................ page 20

Hellen Crawford, probably Ohio, 1835 This spectacular needlework picture, solidly stitched in silk on linen, is as rare as it is visually arresting.

The double-doored Federal house, its shutters closed, sits on a glowing green lawn which provides the setting for two young ladies sharing a small bouquet. Two oversized trees, clearly resembling tropical palms, sprout blue and green foliage and provide shelter for six birds and a nest of four peach-colored baby birds. In the foreground, the young needleworker included two low baskets filled with flowers along with various sprouting plants. Overall, it is an unusual depiction and a very aesthetically pleasing picture.

The inscription, worked in cross stitch on the reverse, reads, ''Wrought by Hellen Crawford aged 9 years January 2 1835 Elizabeth Shorter Instructress." After a thorough search of many genealogical libraries and sources it seems extremely likely that we have identified the samplermaker. Tracking her vital statistics, we found that Hellen Crawford was born in Union, Connecticut, the daughter of Willard and Clara Ann (Hosmer) Crawford, according to the published history of that town. The same source indicates that these Crawfords were "of Newberg, Ohio" and by 1830 the census index shows Willard living in Cleveland.

The Union town history further notes that Willard Crawford died in Cleveland in 1854 and that Hellen Crawford lived in Cleveland. On November 9, 1865, Hellen Crawford married George Parrett in Clinton, Ohio, just south of Akron and not far from Cleveland. Hellen Parrett was married a second time on July 2, 1883 to Alf Clark, also of Clinton, Ohio.

The instructress, Elizabeth Shorter, has not yet been identified. However, there were Shorter families living in Ohio in the 19th century. Clearly this teacher was extremely knowledgeable in the needle arts; not only was the design of this picture quite sophisticated, the technique used to work it was highly unusual.

It was fully worked in the true satin stitch, which uses as much silk thread on the back of the piece as on the front and is difficult to execute with the requisite consistency. The instructress designed the entire sky, house, and tree trunks to be worked horizontally, and the result is a wonderfully textured and luminous needlework picture.

Worked in silk on linen, it is in very good condition in a period gold frame.

Sampler size: 11" X 16" Price: $26,000

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Margaret Eliza Sturrup, probably Burlington County, New jersey, 1811 There is much about this sampler that is reminiscent of the group of pictorial samplers discussed in Betty Ring, Girlliood Embroidery, volume II, "Quaker Samplers of Burlington County," pages 476 to 485.

The butterfly, squirrel, various four-legged animals, baskets, and flowers are elements that have been found on other samplers and that add greatly to the appeal of this one.

The two story house, surmounted by the large butterfly and an enormous basket of flowers, is flanked by two charming young ladies, one holding a flower bud, the other a yellow bird. Instead of a lawn, the house sits on a tightly worked cross-stitch band from which two very stylized trees grow.

The border along the bottom is unusual in that each of its seven flowers has its own unique design. The inscription' reads, "Margret Eliza Sturrup Born May The Fourth 1797 Worked This May The 23 1811." Further research may reveal more information regarding Miss Sturrup.

Worked in silk on linen, the sampler is in excellent, conservation mounted into a figured maple frame with corner blocks.

Sampler size: 17" X 17" Price: $4800

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Ann Pim, Westtown School, Chester County, Pennsylvania, 1804 On December 8, 1789, Ann Pim was born to Isaac and Hannah (Cope) Pim of East Cain, Chester County, where Issac Pim was a saddler to the trade, with a 22 acre farm. They were a Quaker family, members of the Bradford Monthly Meeting, and the Chester County Historical Society currently contains a 19th century photograph album of the Pim family. Ann married David Hoopes of Goshen, Chester County on Aprill4, 1813, in West Chester; they resided in West Goshen where they had five sons. Ann Pim Hoopes died October 3, 1854. Interesting to note is a lovely sampler in the collection of the Winterthur Museum, made by Amy Pim in 1801 at the Plymouth School. Amy Pim is most likely the older sister of Ann, born January 8, 1785. According to Susan B. Swan, long-time curator of this collection, the Plymouth School was a Quaker-run female school in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Westtown School, founded in 1799 and still thriving today, is extremely well regarded for the quality of the needlework produced by its early students, who were working under the direction of obviously talented and demanding teachers. According to the Westtown School Archives, the fourteen-year-old Ann Pim entered the Westtown School in October of 1803. Her Quaker motif sampler is quite similar to a sampler worked by Ann Haines - also in 1804 at the Westtown School -which appears in Betty Ring's Girlhood Embroidery, volume II, figure 430. Ann Pim's sampler is unusually meticulous in its needlework even when compared to other examples from this school. It is also distinctive for its high coloration, as other samplers of this sort were typically worked in a less varied palette. The motifs depicted on this sampler include many classic Quaker images: the swan, squirrel, lilies, rose, cornucopia, bird on basket, and sawtoothed octagon that encloses the inscription "An Emblem of Innocence" under a pair of doves. Worked in a fine cross-stitch in silk on gauze linen, it is in excellent condition. It is conservation mounted into a dark cherry beveled frame with a maple bead.

Sampler size: 12" X 12" Price: $5400

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Hannah Phipps, Hopkinton, Massachusetts, 1830 According to Family Record, a publication of the DAR museum in Washington, D.C., " The majority of American family record samplers were made in Massachusetts between 1810 and 1830 and are concentrated in Middlesex, Essex, and Suffolk Counties." We are quite pleased with our large family record sampler worked by Hannah Phipps at age 10 in Middlesex County, Massachusetts in the town of Hopkinton. Hannah was the daughter of Moses and Hannah (Adams) Phipps and was born in Hopkinton on December 11, 1819.

She married Cromwell McFarland June 2, 1842 and they resided in Hopkinton with their three children. Accompanying the sampler is a slim volume of family genealogy and more importantly, a late 19th century tintype of Hannah Phipps McFarland, reproduced to the right.

Hannah's rigorous border of crinkled silk flat-stitched flowers with bullion-stitched centers frame the vital statistics beautifully. The columns, with their checkerboard bases and sawtooth arc, are a device found on other family record samplers from this area.

Worked in silk on linen, in excellent condition, conservation mounted into a cherry frame.

Sampler size: 16" X 26" Price: $4200

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Margaret McCrackin, Chester County, Pennsylvania, 1815 This important and finely wrought sampler was worked in Chester County, Pennsylvania and is closely related to other known examples in the Chester County Historical Society. Asampler in that collection, worked by Sibilla Way in 1813, is illustrated in Betty Ring's Girlhood Embroidery, Volume II, figure 440 and together these samplers indicate the distinct characteristics of this group: the unusual whipstitched willow trees, the large flower (which appears below the verse on our McCrackin sampler) and the fact that the names of deceased relatives were worked in black.

Margaret McCrackin worked in silk on extremely fine tiffany linen and included an unusual border of full blossoms on a stylized vine; this three-sided border springs forth from a satin-stitched lawn worked in long stitches of crinkled silk. Other motifs are tightly worked in fine cross stitch, as are the verse and inscriptions.

Our samplermaker has named her parents, grandparents and siblings on her work; her parents were George and Mary (Bodly) McCrackin of Aston Township, Delaware County, just south of Chester County.

They were born in Ireland and emigrated in 1803, settling along the banks of the Chester Creek.

According to his obituary of October 1873, George McCrackin was "one of the oldest inhabitants of Delaware County... and raised and educated well a large family of reputable sons and daughters, and by untiring industry at hand looming and by strict economy arose from poverty to independence." It seems as if our samplermaker, Margaret, was born in 1803, and subsequently married a Mr. Turner; she died in 1888.

The sampler was worked in silk on linen, and is in very good condition with slight loss where ink was used to draw the patterns onto the linen. It has been mounted into a molded cherry frame with a crackle finish.

Sampler size: 22" X 16" Price: $7200 (detail)

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Abigail Lawrence and Anna Lawrence, Leominster, Massachusetts, 1799 We are extremely pleased to offer this pair of very lovely samplers, worked by 10 year old twins in the year 1799 in the town of Leominster, Massachusetts. It is fortunate that they remain together as they were so clearly worked with the intent that they would hang side by side.

Interestingly, the twins each used the familiar form of their name when inscribing their samplers.

Abigail's sampler is signed "Nabby Lawrence Sampler work'd in I the lOth year of her age 1799" and Anna's is identical, but for the familiar form of her name, Nancy. Born on April 19, 1790, they were the daughters of Bazelill and Abigail (Simonds) Lawrence of Leominster, Worcester County. Abigail died in 1803. Anna married Walter Johnson of Leominster in 1813, and they had three daughters. Anna was recorded as a widow living in Worcester by 1869.

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The samplers are beautifully colored and delicately worked. The outer sawtooth borders, typical of Massachusetts samplers, provided the edging for the fine chain-stitched meandering vines with flowers and buds. The bottom scenes feature pots of flowers flanking a blue tent-stitched peacock perched upon a small hill. Nancy's bird is looking right while Nabby's looks left, hence the conclusion that they were worked to hang next to one another. While the samplers are extremely similar, naturally there are slight variations, and one might even venture the opinion that Nabby appears to have been the slightly more talented needleworker.

Worked in silk on linen, these samplers are in excellent condition, conservation mounted into cherry frames with crackle finish and ebony bead.

Sampler sizes: each approximately 12" x 13" Price for the pair: $8800

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Crewel Pocketbook, American, circa 1770 Pocketbooks of this style were carried by both men and women (folded into thirds to encase papers, money, etc.) and were popular between 1740 and 1790. Leather pocketbooks sold by tradesmen were far more common than needleworked examples, which were typically made by ladies of all ages for family use. This crewel wool piece, fully worked in a zigzag pattern of the Irish stitch, is wonderfully shaded with as many as four variations of any color. The twill woven binding tape is original and the piece is in excellent condition, conservation mounted into an 18th century style walnut frame.

Size of the pocketbook: 11" X 7" Price: $1850

Sarah Taylor, England, May 1, 1855 This large and colorful sampler was completed by Sarah Taylor on May Day in 1855. The charming combination of the matched red houses with blue roofs, an overstuffed basket of fruit, flowers, a peacock, a large cardinal, and the pair of angels is surrounded by a vigorous flower, bud and leaf border. The sampler, worked entirely in polychrome wool on linen, is in excellent condition, conservation mounted into a burl frame.

Sampler size: 23" X 16"

Price: $2850

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Marianna Kramlich, Lehlgh County, Pennsylvania, circa 1835 A splendid group of samplers was worked over a period of approximately 25 years in the early 19th century in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania under the instruction of Mary Ralston; it is well documented in Betty Ring, Girlhood Embroidery, Vol. II, pages 450-455. This body of work is known for its vivid coloration and precise rendering. Our offering - a handsome needlework depiction of an assemblage of flowers made by Marianna Kramlich is clearly attributable to the same school and has features identical to the published examples: tent-stitched flowers, buds, and leaves worked in crewel wool.

Marianna Kramlich was born in 1822, the daughter of George and Judith Kramlich of Weisenberg Township, Lehigh County. She married William B. Fogel on December 23, 1841, and they had six children. She died January 9,1841 and is buried in Trexlertown, Lehigh County. A handwritten book of musical scores written by Marianna Kramlich is in the collection of the Lehigh County Historical Society.

Worked in crewel wool on linen, it is in excellent condition, conservation mounted in its original beveled gold frame with the original reverse painted glass mat.

Sampler size: 12" X 10" Price: $3450

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Sarah Palmer, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, 1768 Sarah Hutchinson, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1794 We are fortunate to have purchased these two lovely and rare samplers a few months ago and became intrigued with the possibility that research would uncover the identities of the of the samplermakers and a possible relationship between the two. The inscriptions are highly unusual and, exclusive of the alphabets, read as follows: Sarah Palmer daughter of I John and Sarah Palmer wa/s born the first day of the I 3 month about ten o clock I in the evening in the year I of our Lord 1757 and made I this sampler in the year I 1768 Sarah Hutchinson daugh/ter of Mahlon and Sarah I Hutchinson was born th/e twenty-seventh of Decelmber between 2 an 3 clock I in the morning in the year I 1787 made in the year 1794.

Two other known Philadelphia samplers, dating from 1725 and 1750, include similar inscriptions with the unusual phrasing regarding the exact time of birth of the samplermakers. (See Betty Ring Girlhood Embroidery, volume II, figures 348 and 353.)

We turned to the Friends Historical Library at Swarthmore College and were rewarded with the following information: Sarah Palmer was born March 1, 1757, the only child of John Jr. and Sarah (Walker) Palmer of Middletown, Bucks County; her birth was recorded at the Middletown Friends Monthly Meeting. On January 7, 1779, she married Mahlon Hutchinson of the Falls Monthly Meeting, also in Bucks County. The family later moved to Philadelphia where Mahlon Hutchinson became a successful merchant. The births of their seven children were recorded at the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting; their eldest daughter, Sarah Hutchinson, was born December 27, 1785. She married Josiah Kay of Philadelphia at the Mulberry Monthly Meeting on January 7, 1808 and they had six children. Their eldest daughter was named, of course, Sarah.

Sampler size: Sarah Palmer- 14" x 11"

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11 In the alternative, we could simply have opened Betty Ring's Girlhood Embroidery volume II to figure 413 for a fascinating insight into this same family. Figure 413 illustrates a large and important 1806 Folwell silk embroidered picture worked by Ann Hutchinson, the second daughter of John and Sarah (Palmer) Hutchinson. The entire Hutchinson family, including grandmother Sarah Walker Palmer, is the subject of the silk embroidery; Ann and her sister Sarah are the central figures. This silk embroidery is owned by the Allentown Art Museum and serves as a extraordinary document of this prominent family.

Our mother/daughter samplers represent a family tradition - a record of the specific time and date of their births worked onto a sampler when each samplermaker was nine years of age. Both of the young girls were working within the sampler designs of their times. The earlier sampler is worked in the small scale of the period and was bordered with a fine warp-dyed silk ribbon, original to 1768. The later sampler is larger and includes a solid band of queen's stitch at the bottom. Not only do these sampler represent a family tradition, they also clearly demonstrate two stages in the "evolution" of sampler design in the region.

Each of the samplers was worked in silk on linen and neither one was framed until quite recently; thus, they are in pristine condition. They are now conservation mounted into 19th century frames.

Sampler size: Sarah Hutchinson - 17" x 12" Price for the pair: $7800

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Mary Chandler, England, 1842 There is a captivating primitive quality to this sampler. It depicts Adam and Eve, each fully dressed, under a massive apple tree with the serpent wound around its trunk.

The baskets, birds, animals, and border all contribute to its appeal. Although the samplermaker signed her name as "May Chandler," the companion sampler would confirm that her name is Mary and would indicate her age to be 28 years. Wool on linen, it is in very good condition with slight loss, in a later frame.

Sampler size: 11" X 10" Price: $1100

Mary Chandler, England, 1842 Mary Chandler's work was consistent: on this sampler she featured a well-dressed couple, practically identical to her Adam and Eve, save for an exaggerated walking stick the gentleman carries. These figures flank a red cottage which is surrounded by birds, animals and flowers. This sampler is inscribed ''Mary Chandler hur work age 28" and, like her other piece, includes a religious verse. Wool on linen, in very good condition with slight loss, in a later frame. \ Sampler size: 12" X 10"

Price: $950

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Acrostic sampler, Huldah Parmelee, North Killingworth, Connecticut, 1829 An acrostic verse is one in which the first letter of each line spells a specific word, a device rarely used in sam-

pler verse. In this case the samplermaker, Huldah Parmelee of North Killingworth, Connecticut, used her sixline verse acrostically to spell her first name. Huldah has included her name, age, place of origin and date of completion of her sampler, and we were able to find additional facts about her life and family: that this sampler is so well documented adds to its advantage.

Huldah Parmelee was a descendant of one of the 17th century settlers of Saybrook, Connecticut, William Parmelee. She was born June 29, 1818 in Killingworth, the daughter of Adin and Dorinda (Hull) Parmelee; Huldah married Julius Buell in the town of her birth on June 7, 1846.

This sampler was worked in black silk onto unbleached linen, bordered with a drawn edging. It is in excellent condition and has been conservation mounted into a period frame.

Sampler size: 9" x 13" Price: $3200

Martha B. Fish, Providence, Rhode Island, circa 1825 The family register sampler was a fashionable type of sampler worked throughout New England in the early years of the 19th century and this example shows the characteristics of those worked in Providence, Rhode Island. The use of brilliant blue, the globe-topped column, the phrasing that describes the birth order and gender of the children (i.e. "Their first daughter Martha was born ... "), and the fine needlework in the borders (note the use of tent, whip and seed stitches) are traits found in other Providence samplers.

The Fish family arrived in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 1643 and removed to Providence, Rhode Island by 1655.

Isaac Fish, a livery stable keeper, married Sarah Baker in Providence on the twelfth day of December in 1801. The births of their nine children were recorded on this sampler by their eldest daughter, Martha, who was born December 7, 1804. Although she did not sign her work in the typical fashion, she stitched the monogram of her initials at the base of the blue column, leaving no doubt that she was the maker of this sampler.

Worked in silk onto unbleached linen, the sampler is in very good condition and has been conservation mounted into a cherry frame with a maple bead.

Sampler size: 16"x 15" Price: $2850

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Elizabeth Keiser, probably Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 1843 This delightful little sampler is a fine example of Pennsylvania German needlework at its most decorative. The polychromed merino wool has held its color and the depictions of birds, a dog, a rosycheeked woman, a heart and the large potted flowering trees almost jump off the linen. The deep pink narrow border is surrounded by a pale blue silk ribbon, original to the sampler.

The back board of the frame of this sampler retains a portion of original German newspaper from Lancaster, Pennsylvania; this Elizabeth Keiser was most likely living in Lancaster County where three Keiser families were listed in the 1840 census index.

The sampler was worked in wool onto linen, is in excellent condition in its original beveled pine frame.

Sampler size: 10" x 11" Price: $2200

Darning Sampler, H. W., Netherlands, 1788 The darning sampler, indigenous to the Netherlands, is a fascinating combination of "plain sewing" and "fancy work." It teaches even a casual observer exactly how darning would have been learned and provides an exceptional geometric needlework picture while doing so. The darnings recreate the intricate, richly patterned fabrics of the mid-tolate 18th century and serve as a reminder for a needleworker who might encounter such fabrics in need of mending throughout her life.

Sixteen squares were cut and discarded before the needleworker began her work on this sampler; four of the darned squares were completed with needlelace. She also included depictions of a parrot in a cage (a classic Dutch motif), four birds, two wreaths, a basket, and a crown.

Worked in silk on linen and in excellent condition, it is conservation mounted into a gold frame.

Sampler size: 14" x 15" Price: $2600

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Sarah Kimball, Boxford, Massachusetts, 1798 One rarely comes across a sampler which is both as visually delightful and wonderfully inscribed as this one, worked by "Sarah Kimball of Boxford in the county of Essex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts" in 1798.

Sarah Kimball, who was seven years old at the time, was the only child of Asa and Mehitable (Symonds) Kimball of Boxford, a small village in the middle of Essex County, north of Boston.

The borders of this sampler are unusual and quite appealing. The upper border features three song birds which alternate with miniature trees, while the two side borders are a tangle of red buds and vines. The scene at the bottom of the sampler includes a horse and several trees with decorated trunks on a series of hills worked in the flat stitch.

Sarah's choice of verse reads as follows: We need not travel seeking ways to bliss He who desires contentment cannot miss No garden walls this precious flower embrace It common grows in every desart place Each line of verse became a spacing problem for the samplermaker which she resolved by tucking small letters into the areas between the lines.

The sampler was worked in silk on linen and is in excellent condition, conservation mounted into a fine 19th century gold frame.

Sampler size: 16" X 15"

Price: $4400

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Emblem of America, circa 1810 This exquisitely executed silk embroidered picture was worked by an unknown needleworker in the early years of the new Republic. The subject, popularly referred to as Lady Liberty, is a classically robed young woman holding a flag pole with the American flag in one hand and a pole supporting a liberty cap and a leafy frond in the other hand. The source of the imagery, which was followed quite closely, is a print entitled America by P. Conceria. It was published in London in 1801 and is in the collection of the Winterthur Museum. A silk embroidery of strikingly similar design was worked in 1810 by a Connecticut schoolgirl, and entitled Emblem of America; it is in the collection of the D.A R. Museum in Washington. Both of these silk embroideries include such particulars as the eagle worked in metallic thread on the furling flag and trees worked in fine french knots. It is likely that these two pieces were done under the tutelage of the same instructress.

Our needleworker was intent on exhibiting her skills and paid particular attention to detail. The garlands that drape the figure include minute french knots at the center of each pink flower. The toe of her slipper peeks out from under her robes. Hundreds of tiny french knots provide the texture of the small trees in the background , while the palm tree and foreground are beautifully shaded and fully worked. A professional artist was most likely responsible for painting the finely featured head of Liberty.

Worked in silk, metallic thread, and paint on silk, it is in very good condition in a period frame with a replaced reverse painted glass mat.

Needlework size: 10" X 8" Price: $2800

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Rachel Redman, Salem County, New Jersey, 1784 We are pleased to offer this outstanding example, a beautifully worked sampler made by eight year old Rachel Redman in 1784. The sampler was designed with rich and varied borders and a deep classic band along the top. The use of alphabetical and numerical progression as an inner border is unusual, and somewhat difficult to decipher because of young Rachel's habit of reversing her letters and numbers. The inner border along the right also accommodates a finely worked pale blue inscription which reads, "Done in the 8th year of her age."

Consistent with reversals of letters and numbers elsewhere on this sampler, Rachel Redman worked her surname as "Rebman" twice on this piece. She was born December 17, 1776 to John and Rachel Redman of Salem County New Jersey. They were Quakers and members of the Salem Monthly Meeting, where John Redman was an elder in the meeting. Rachel married Thomas Clark of Gloucester County, New Jersey on January 1, 1817, and they joined the Woodbury Monthly Meeting, also in Gloucester County. This sampler descended in the family and was shown at the sampler exhibit held at the Arch Street Friends Meetinghouse in Philadelphia in the Spring of 1995.

The sampler is in excellent condition, retaining its original color and exhibiting some of the inked lines which were most likely drawn by her teacher. Rachel employed a wide variety of stitches, including cross, whip, queen's, satin, eyelet, fern and chain. Worked in silk on linen, it has been conservation mounted into a beveled cherry frame.

Sampler size: 13" X 11" Price: $4800

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Edith Spencer, Phlladelphia area, 1798 The refined delicacy of this sampler places it firmly in the body of excellent needlework which was taught to young ladies throughout the second half of the 18th century in Philadelphia. (See Betty Ring, Girlhood Embroidery, volume I, "Philadelphia's Opulent Embroidery.") The samplermaker was a young lady from a prominent Quaker family in Montgomery County, just north of the city. She may have been educated in Philadelphia, perhaps while she stayed with family in the city. Edith Spencer was born December 16, 1785 in Montgomery County, one of the eight children of John and Lydia (Foulke) Spencer; the sampler descended in the family.

The sampler was executed in extremely tight cross, whip, and satin stitches and presents the Lord's Prayer su~rounded by a traditional Philadelphia border. The inscription, "Edith Spencer's Work 1798," is enclosed in a lovely whip-stitched meandering cartouche.

Worked in silk on fine tiffany linen, the sampler is in excellent condition, conservation mounted into a 19th century frame.

Sampler size: 16" X 14" Price: $3250

M. Finkel eg Daughter.

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Emeline Hart and Lucy Walton, Enfield Shaker Community, Connecticut, 1847 We consider it a privilege to offer this important pair of Shaker samplers. There are only a small number of documented samplers from the Shaker communities, and the existence of a pair of such samplers is exceedingly rare. A fine overview of the subject appears in Samplers and Samplermakers by Mary Jaene Edmonds (pages 155 to 159). In fact, a closely related Shaker sampler worked in 1863 at the same community is illustrated in this section of Mrs. Edmond's book.

It is exceptionally fortunate that these two pieces have remained together, since it is as a pair that they

offer an unusual glimpse into the teacher/student relationship. Both samplers are dated 1847, and Emeline Hart inscribed her age, 13, onto her work. Lucy Walton, however, was 48 years old at that time, and there is no doubt but that she was functioning as a teacher or tutor of needlework at the Enfield Shaker Community where the samplers were worked.

Lucy Walton was born April13, 1799, the daughter of Jonathan and Chloe Walton. In 1809 the family of three joined the Enfield Shakers. While the parents decided to leave the Community in 1815, their daughter Lucy Walton, then age 16, decided to stay, and this conclusion is poignantly documented in a testimonial now in the archives of the Enfield Shakers. She remained a Shaker in that community for the rest of her life, and records indicate that she was occupied with housekeeping and attending to matters of the extended family. The fact that she worked a sampler at 48 years of age clearly indicates her role as teacher.

Lucy Walton died in 1870 and is buried in the Shaker Cemetery at Enfield.

Emeline Hart was born in Hartford, Connecticut on February 25, 1834 and was admitted to the Enfield Shaker Community in 1838 when she was four years old.

She went on to become quite prominent within the Shaker communities, and in 1876, designed and patented a revolving oven at the Canterbury, N.H. Community, a breakthrough in the important kitchen industry of the Shaker villages. By the 1890s, Emeline and a partner, Lucy Ann Shepard, were widely known for their cloakselling business under the label of "Hart and Shepard."

Emeline was appointed trustee, a position of leadership in Shaker business affairs, and First in the Maine Ministry, a position of great spiritual responsibility. Emeline Hart died October 29, 1914, and a memorial service befitting a Shaker of esteem and prominence was held the afternoon of October 31 at Canterbury.

The samplers were each worked in silk on linen and are backed with their original blue glazed cotton; it is likely that they were not framed for many years. They are in excellent condition, conservation mounted into a period cherry frame.

Sampler size: each approximately 4"x 4" Price upon request

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Louisa D. Whittelesey, Farmington, Connecticut, 1838 This delicate and finely wrought sampler is accompanied by a wealth of family information. Louisa's great-great-great-great-grandfather John Whittelesey emigrated to America in 1635 and settled in Saybrook, Connecticut, where he operated a ferry across the Connecticut River. Another ancestor was one of the five members of the second graduating class of Yale College (then located in Saybrook) in 1705. Other forbears served as Indian interpreters and fought prior to and during the Revolutionary War. Louisa Dolly Whittlesey was born on January 14, 1825 and died unmarried in Chicago, Illinois.

The upper portion of the sampler includes a three-quarter view of a lovely Federal house; the crinkled silk roof and windows provide detail. A generic "sacred to the memory" tomb and willow tree, considered stylish additions at the time, complete the scene.

Vital statistics are listed below and the framework for this information shows a decidedly architectural influence.

The sampler was worked in silk on linen and is in excellent condition. It is conservation mounted into a walnut frame.

Sampler size: 16" X 16" Price: $2800

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Julianna Lawrence, Washington City (D.C.), 1830

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Embroideries known to have been worked in the District of Columbia are relatively rare," according to Betty Ring in Girlhood Embroidery, volume II, Page 523. Our fascinating example descended in a prominent Maryland family and is the only known Washington City sampler depicting St. Patrick's Church, which stands at lOth and G Streets and was founded in 1792. This needlework rendering is quite detailed and shows individual bricks, molding, mullions, and a wonderfully wrought front gate.

The realistic representation of the Romanesque-style building distinctly contrasts with the whimsical decoration of the lawn with its oversized serrated leaves and berries.

Identification of the samplermaker was a challenge, because letters at the beginning and end of both her names had been removed. However, we are quite certain that this piece was made

by Julianna Lawrence of Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Born circa 1810, she was the daughter of Colonel John Lawrence and Sarah Shriner and later married Evan Dorsey, Jr., according to Founders of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, published in Baltimore in 1980.

Worked in silk on linen, the sampler is in very good condition with one small area of loss, conservation mounted into a 19th century walnut frame.

Sampler size: 16" X 16"

Price: $7800

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White Dove school, Deerfield area, Massachusetts, circa 1810 There is a school of samplermaking from the western part of Massachusetts which is referred to as the 'White Dove" school by Betty Ring in Girlhood Embroidery, Volume I, page 146. Our wonderful miniature sampler clearly features the white dove outlined in gold, the classic motif found on other documented samplers from this group. The baskets of fruit and other small motifs are also characteristics found on other of these samplers. Our unsigned sampler may have been a practice or small presentation piece worked at the same time as a larger sampler.

Worked in silk on linen, in excellent condition, it has been conservation mounted into a 19th century oak frame.

Sampler size: 8" X 6" Price: $1100

Ann Huber, Pennsylvania, 1834 This small random-motif sampler is a praiseworthy example of Pennsylvania German needlework design.

Worked by Ann Huber in 1834, the sampler includes classic Pennsylvania German elements: stylized flowers, geometric designs, a heart, a bird, and a scattered alphabet. The samplermaker included the year 1822 on her piece, a clear indication of the year of her birth. She was, in all likelihood, Anna Huber, daughter of Georg and Eva Huber of the town of Starview,York County, Pennsylvania; she was born in 1822 and christened in April, 1823.

Worked in silk on linen, the sampler is in very good condition with some slight loss, conservation mounted into a 19th century walnut frame.

Sampler size: 7" x 7"

Price: $1250

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Miranda Skinner, East Hartford, Connecticut, 1832 This endearing little sampler is inscribed "Miranda Skinner E. Hartford age 9" and depicts a large building (note the hanging trade sign to the left), some trees and a pair of birds flanking a small heart. The samplermaker was the daughter of Norman and Miranda (Newberry) Skinner of East Hartford; she was born in 1823 and married Charles H. Bradford of Great Falls, N. H. on September 28, 1846 in East Hartford.

Her sampler is a fine example of the many schoolgirl pieces worked throughout New England in the early 19th century. Fortunately, young Miranda Skinner included the name of her town on her work, which further enhances the appeal of this sampler. Worked in silk on linen, it is in excellent condition, conservation mounted into a 19th century beveled mahogany frame.

Sampler size: 8" x 11" Price: $1800

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Susan Robinson, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1824

We rarely are able to find Pennsylvania samplers worked west of the Allegheny Mountains and we are quite pleased with this fine example inscribed "Susan Robinson Pittsburgh November 18 1824."

Genealogical research points towards Susan Robinson, born on September 20, 1811, the daughter of Richard and Mary (Bull) Robinson of Pittsburgh. Her work exhibits a variety of stitches, including eyelet, cross, and satin stitches with a highly unusual demonstration of her skill in the choice of queen's stitch to work the upper-case dark blue alphabet. The border was worked in a combination of blue, green, beige, and tan in a classic strawberry pattern.

The sampler was worked in silk, wool and linen and is in good condition with some slight loss, and has been conservation mounted into a tiger maple frame.

Sampler size: 17"x16" Price: $1700

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Abigail F. Springer, New York, 1829 On October 6, 1829, ten year old Abigail F. Springer of New York finished her fine pictorial sampler, naming S. Taylor as her instructress. The tightly worked scene of house, tree, foliage and birds would have been considered the latest fashion in needlework and differs in both design and technique from more tradi- ' tiona! examples of the time. The stylish nature of this sampler was consistent with fashionable New York, which was eclipsing both New England and Pennsylvania in the area of design during the period in which this sampler was worked. Abigail's border, a vinewrapped rod, is one frequently found in New York samplers and a variation of it is repeated in miniature underneath the name of the teacher.

Abigail's verse is a lovely description of the education process as well as the process of samplermaking: Plain as this canvass was we find Unfetter'd unadorn'd the human mind By close attention carefully inwrought Fair education paints the useful thought Inserts with care the lines in proper ground Completes the work and scatters roses round Worked in silk on linen, in excellent condition, conservation mounted into a tiger maple beveled and bead frame.

Sampler size: 16" X 18" Price: $3850

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Mary Jones, England, 1777 This very pretty and colorful English sampler was worked by "Mary Jones in the Thirteenth year of her Age July 17 1777" and is so inscribed in the lower right compartment. The opposite compartment reads "Art hath taught my I Fingers skill to write I Without pen ink or Quill," a particularly charming sampler verse.

The central basket of flowers with two angels hovering above is surrounded by religious verse; the bottom line depicts the crowns and coronets of the king, duke, marquis, earl and baron. This sampler demonstrates the particularly fine needlework for which 18th century English samplermakers are known.

Worked in silk on wool, the sampler is in good condition, with some loss, conservation mounted into its original rosewood veneer frame.

Sampler size: 10" X 9" Price: $2850

Ellen Sayers, Brighton, England, 1879 On March 25, 1879, a poignant little sampler was completed by Ellen Sayers and marked with the name of the school that she was attending the Deaf and Dumb School, located in the fashionable seaside town of Brighton. Although we have not known of other samplers from this school, this type of institution reminds us of the Bristol Orphanage Schools at which many samplers were worked in the 1870's. Ellen's sampler is a simple and carefully wrought example; she worked her letters alternately in deep brown and teal blue, and edged the sampler with a narrow binding of blue silk ribbon. It was worked in silk on wool and is in excellent condition, conservation mounted into a late 19th century frame.

Sampler size: 9" x 7" Price: $1450

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Catherine Taylor, England, circa 1810 This small sampler is a carefully wrought depiction of a handsome young couple. The lady carries a basket of fruit and the gentleman bears a floral offering; their costumes represent the height of fashion of the period.

The peacock, butterfly, and birds add to the pictorial nature of the composition. The verse, "The loss of Time is much I The loss of Truth is more I The loss of Christ is such I That no one can restore" is a classic one recorded as early as the year 1700 on samplers. Worked in silk on wool, it is in very good condition with some loss and has been conservation mounted into its original frame.

Sampler size: 8" x8" Price: $1100

Ruth Dealy, Coalpark, England, 1790

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This delightful and unusual little English sampler seems more likely to be a piece worked on the occasion of a betrothal or wedding than a schoolgirl sampler. It depicts a man and woman in early costume and is inscribed "I'll constant prove to thee my love Coalpark, April3, 1790 Ruth Dealy." Coalpark was a small town in Durham, a county in northern England, the western part of which was particularly rich in coal.

Worked in silk on linen, it is in good condition with some loss, conservation mounted into a 19th century frame.

Sampler size: 8"x 9" Price: $2450.

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ANTIQUE TEXTILE RESTORATION SERVICE Our Textile Restoration Department is well qualified to handle your needs for proper conservation and restoration of your valuable antique textiles. We use only the best archival and acid-free materials, and employ museum-approved techniques. Our goal is to safely conserve your antique pieces, keeping in mind the needs of both the collector and the collection.

SAMPLERS AND NEEDLEWORK

In the past six years we have handled approximately 800 samplers and silk embroideries in our restoration department. Below is a description of the step-by-step process that we employ in our "Conservation mounting":

0 Carefully clean the piece using our special vacuum process.

0 Mount it by means of hand-sewing onto acid-free museum board that has been slip-cased with fabric appropriate to the piece itself, and at the same time stabilize any holes or weak areas.

0 Refit the item back into its original frame, or custom-make a reproduction of an 18th or early 19th century frame using one of our exclusive patterns.

0 Supply a reverse painted black glass mat, if appropriate, done in the correct antique manner.

0 When necessary, we can install True VueÂŽ Conservation Clear glass which blocks 97% of the harmful Ultra-violet light.

0 In the framing process, the needlework is properly spaced away from the glass, the wooden frame is sealed, and the dust cover is attached with special archival tape.

QUILTS, COVERLETS, HOOKED RUGS AND TABLE RUGS

While we do not provide cleaning services for these large textiles, we are expert in the area of mounting for hanging, and if need be, preparation for framing. This may be as simple as applying velcro and supplying hanging strips, or it may necessitate an appropriate stretcher arrangement. Minor repairs can skillfully be made using our supply of period fabrics .

Hooked rugs which can no longer withstand abuse underfoot can be successfully mounted as wall hangings. We are adept at minor repairs to hooked and table rugs, including backing and binding when necessary.

All repair and refitting is done by trained experts, and each job receives prompt attention and our personal supervision. Work is accepted from collectors as well as from dealers and institutions, and items may be brought in or shipped to us.

Upon receipt, we will examine your items and phone you to discuss your needs, make our recommendations, and give you an estimate of the cost. we make every effort to complete jobs entrusted to us in a timely fashion, and we know you will be pleased with the quality of our work. Reforences from our clients can be fUrnished upon request.

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SELECTED NEEDLEWORK BIBLIOGRAPHY Allen, Gloria Seaman. Family Record: Genealogical Watercolors and Needlework.

Washington, DC: DAR Museum, 1989.

Benes, Peter. Old-Town and The Waterside.

The Historical Society of Old Newbury, Newburyport, 1986.

Bolton, Ethel Stanwood, and Coe, Eva Johnston. American Samplers.

Boston: The Massachusetts Society of the Colonial Dames of America, 1921.

Edmonds, Mary Jaene. Samplers and Samplermakers: An American Schoolgirl Art 1700-1850.

New York: Rizzoli, 1991.

Epstein, Kathy. An Anonymous Woman Her Work Wrought In The 17th Century.

Curious Works Press, 1992 Hersh, Tandy and Charles. Samplers of the Pennsylvania Germans.

Birdsboro, Pa: Pennsylvania German Society, 1991.

Krueger, Glee F. A Gallery of American Samplers: The Theodore H Kapnek Collection.

New York: E.P. Dutton, 1978.

New England Samplers to 1840.

Sturbridge, Mass.: Old Sturbridge Village, 1978.

Ring, Betty. American Needlework Treasures.

New York: E.P.Dutton, 1987.

Girlhood Embroidery: American Samplers & Pictorial Needlework, 1650 -1850.

Knopf, 1993.

Let Virtue Be a Guide to Thee: Needlework in the Education of Rhode Island Women, 1730-1820.

Providence: The Rhode Island Historical Society, 1983.

Schiffer, Margaret B. Arts and Crafts of Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Exton, Pa., 1980 Historical Needlework of Pennsylvania.

New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1968.

Schorsch, Anita. Mourning Becomes America: Mourning Art in the New Nation.

Clinton, New Jersey: The Main Street Press, 1976.

Studebaker, Sue. Ohio Samplers: Schoolgirl Embroideries 1803-1850.

Warren County Historical Society, 1988.

Swan, Susan B. A Winterthur Guide to American Needlework.

New York: Crown Publishers, 1976.

Plain and Fancy: American Women and Their Needlework, 1700-1850.

Curious Works Press, Austin, 1995.

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