Elizabeth Gilbert 1814

ELIZABETH GILBERT dated 1814

This finely stitched English sampler might be associated with Norfolk as well as Quaker sampler schools. Much of the lettering resembles the lettering found on Quaker samplers, and the arrangement of the letters in the fifth row suggest “the rule to mark napkins” taught at Quaker schools.

The verse, titled “Contentment” reads as follows:

Dear Lord affect my tender heart and grant to me thy grace

May I from every sin depart And seek thy lovely face/

O may that blessed portion be Which Mary chose of old

Of more importance for to me Than gems of finest gold

The lower quarter of the sampler has been filled in with freehand stitching (satin, straight, stem, long and short stitches) with a ribboned bouquet of flowers with trailing branches. The sampler is dated and signed “Elizabeth Gilbert aged ten years.”

The color and condition are very good, with some very small holes in the lower right corner.

11-1/2″ x 17-1/2″, with frame (not contemporary with the sampler) 14-1/2″ x 20-1/2″