This is an English sampler depicting “Joseph and Mary’s Flight into Egypt” in the lower register. Joseph with a red beard carries a lantern and leads a donkey bearing Mary. The scene is flanked by two fruiting trees, as well as lions, dogs and sheep. In the central register, elongated female figures flank stags and pots of flowers. Ships sail above their heads. The verse at the top includes Roman numerals:

When this you see
Remember me x xi
Though many miles
We distant be xxi
A charge to keep I have xi
A God to glorify xxxxi
A never dying soul to save
And fit it for the sky xxi

The sampler is surrounded by a four sided, arcaded floral border. Executed with fine wool and silk, very good color and condition (some darkening of background linen). The sampler appears to have been conservation mounted in a very good period bird’s eye maple frame. Sampler itself 16″x20″, with frame 19-1/2″ x 23″.

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