Antique Samplers

A late Stuart petit point picture (circa 1650-1690) depicting the story of Samson and Delilah. Here Delilah has removed Samson’s hair which was supposedly the source of his great strength.  Curiously this rather violent scene is surrounded by a contented cow being milked by a milkmaid, a bull,  three sheep, and a shepherd playing his…

ELIZABETH BRACKNER 1864 Probably an English sampler, this has been stitched with wool on linen in unfaded and brilliant colors, with three alphabets and two verses. The scene depicts two children surrounded by oversized flowers, birds and butterflies. Apart from one horizontal split to the linen toward the bottom the sampler is in excellent condition,…

CHRISTIAN FISHER A Scottish sampler, circa 1800 This is a spectacular Scottish sampler with a four-sided floral border surrounding a vast reserve that encompasses two houses and an amazing array of human, animal, and botanical motifs.  Across the top is an arcaded band of stylized flowers, each one of the eight executed differently.  Below this…

CONTINENTAL SAMPLER, unsigned, circa 1850 Two rows of alphabets and one row of numerals are executed in cross stitch with wool on coarse linen in this primitive sampler. The symbolic depictions of a windmill, ladder, basket, celestial forms and a church suggest a continental origin. A woman in a blue dress stands in the lower…

SARAH FINCHETT, circa 1810 The sampler is probably American, made in Liverpool (possibly New York) by the daughter of John and Ellen Finchett. On homespun linen, stitched with silk threads, a four sided floral border encloses a verse and a scene with a large brick house flanked by flowers, trees, a black dog,and a black…

ENGLISH BAND SAMPLER circa 1680-90 The sampler consists of nine finely stitched pattern bands stitched with silk on linen, in a palette of three alternating colors, with an alphabet at the bottom. Stitches used are mostly double running stitch, with some cross, montenegrin cross and seeding. The sampler is in excellent condition with some fading…

Aged 11 years, circa 1830 What first attracted me to this sampler were the “broom ladies” who appear on another one of my reproduction samplers made by Sarah Willson in 1837. At first glance, it appears as if they might be playing bagpipes, but they are indeed holding brooms and offering them for sale. It’s…

English sampler made in Bradford, Yorkshire (West Riding),showing distinct influence of Scottish design in the illuminated lettering.  Very colorful, very good color and condition apart from some losses the ground now conservation mounted over linen and in its original frame with ultra violet filtering conservation glass.  Stitches used in this lovely little sampler are double running,…

An English sampler employing many unusual stitches and motifs, with exceptionally preserved color.  A bold arcaded four-sided floral border surrounds a central reserve.  At the top is a bank of satin-stitched clouds, followed by a verse cartouche flanked by flying angels.  At the center is a large house on top of a very high hill…

ANN ANTHONY 1838 AGE 10 YEARS A fabulous English sampler in remarkable condition, full of gorgeous, unique (and even strange) beautifully executed motifs. At the top is a two-storied house with a pair of couples on either side enclosed in leafy bowers. Below the house are Adam and Eve flanked by archaic “boxers” and large…

ELIZABETH ROBINSONMay 21, 1834 (?) English sampler in a rosewood veneered frame with three rows of alphabets above a four line pious verse, and in the lower third a scene with flowers, trees and birds. It is stitched in fine wool on linen entirely in cross stitch, with very good color. The linen has suffered…

ELIZABETH FOSTER 1747 English sampler stitched in silk on fine tammy cloth retaining excellent color with two rows of alphabets and three beautiful floral pattern bands with three verses interspersed. The sampler has suffered some losses but is now carefully mounted over modern linen that blends very well with the original ground. There is damage…