Antique Samplers

MARY RANDALAged 9 years 1803This English sampler features an unusual and amusing hunting scene with a hunter on horseback pursuing a single stag with a pack of ten spotted hounds (beagles?)  A four sided floral border centers five tiers of design including floral motifs and trees.The verse is:Give me O Lord thy early GraceNot let…

ELIZABETH LILLY 1801 An English sampler with a four-sided carnation border centering many intricate petit point floral and birds motifs.  There is a large mansion house at the center.  The lower third features two of the most imaginative sheep I’ve ever seen on a sampler.  They’re in an extensive pasture with flowers flanking the cartouche…

MARGARET REID 1837 Possibly Scottish, a very well-preserved sampler that was likely never framed. (There is an acquisition tag sewn to the edge but the source collection is unknown.)  An unusual, elaborate four-sided floral and leaf border surrounds a central reserve with a brief moral verse, Adam and Eve with a turquoise serpent under the…

ANN DENT HER SAMPLER FINISHED DECEMBER 23 1806 BORN APRIL THE 9 1799 That’s as much as I can say about Ann Dent’s sampler, which I believe was made in New England on homespun linen with very fine wool threads.  It’s an alphabet sampler with a few geometric pattern bands.  Stitches used are cross, eyelet,…

MARY PATTON 1803 An American band sampler stitched on homespun linen with silk threads, consisting of alphabets, numerals, inscription, and spot motifs within a three-sided floral border. The inscription: Mary Patton her sampler made in the 11 year of her age 1803 Ambitious stitches used in her sampler are cross, eyelet, Queen, counted satin, and…

AMELIA WILSON  1837 A very finely stitched English sampler in superb condition with an unusual pomegranate and palm leaf border, executed in three tiers.  The top contains a verse flanked by intricate floral sprays and beneath the verse are more meticulously stitched foliate sprays and a vignette of a small pond with a swimming duck.…

AGNES BINNIE 1824 Scottish sampler made in Linlithgow, West Lothian, in 1824. Agnes Binnie was born in nearby Stirling on March 22nd, 1808. Her father was Robert Binnie, age 45, and her mother was Mary Addie, age 34. At the age of 23 Agnes married James Barclay on March 16th, 1832, in Falkirk, Stirlingshire. Together…

MARTHA MASKELL 1799 A miniature sampler that could be American, stitched in silk on linen. The verse is: Salvation to the Lord belongs He only can defend This clessing he extends to all That on his pow’r depends Excellent original color, gilt frame possibly original 8″ x 6″

Very finely stitched English sampler featuring a verse titled “RELIGION” and many charming motifs, surrounded by a four sided vining border. At the top she has stitched Adam and Eve under the tree, a small rendition of Solomon’s Temple, trees, flowers, sheep and a dog. In the lower right corner there is a shepherd and…

Beautiful, finely stitched English sampler with a meandering four sided floral border centering three registers, the first with trumpeting angels flanking a religious verse with tiny birds and insects over a petit point diving band.

A wonderful sampler, possibly stitched in the north of England (see Scottish influences), with silk and fine wool on tammy cloth, using cross and counted satin stitches. It is marked “Elizabeth Cheetham work this in the 11 year of her age.” This might be one Elizabeth Cheetham who was born in 1813 to James and…

Scottish sampler with a four sided rosebud border, and the large illuminated initials of JF and JK at the top, very likely May’s parents.  The verse is flanked by two stylized deer (more resembling benches than animals). The verse is: Favour is deceitful and beauty is vain but a woman that feareth the lord she…