#6966                                                                                                        Mary Main Sampler             
 

Click picture for larger image

        
12 " x 13 1/4 ".   16 1/4 " x 18 " including a Lovely 19th century maple frame. Mary's delightful sampler features the alphabets, numbers and dividing floral bands that we expect to see on a 19th century piece of needlework, but so much more. The wooded scene at the bottom of the sampler actually reminds me of a Disney forest. It is absolutely charming. There is a small fantasy-type castle complete with flags or banners blowing in the breeze. The castle is surrounded with wonderful trees and florals that almost seem to be protecting the castle.  The only thing missing from the scene is a princess strolling out the door with a basket of apples. Mary's sampler is truly a wonderful whimsical work of art.

 
                                          

Click picture for larger image.

                                                                                             According to geneological records, Mary Main was born on September 5 in either 1793 or 1794 in the town of Ancroft, Durham, England. Her parents were Margory Johnston and Richard Main.  Although the sampler is English, it has a de- cidedly Scottish look to it. When I checked a map, I dis- covered that Ancroft is indeed very close to the Scottish border so Mary was definitely influenced by the needlework being done in Scotland at that time. She signed her sampler "Ancroft August 3, 1803 Mary Main".        l                         
                                                                                

Click picture for larger image.

 

There are a few holes in Mary's charming sampler.  But it has been backed by another piece of linen so the holes are not obvious. Most of the holes are in the bottom border and signature areas. There are also a couple of holes in the alphabet area and just above the large pansy band near the middle.  But the colors are strong and there is very little thread loss. The sampler has been mounted on acid-free board.                                                                                                                                           $1865

                                                                             #6971                                                                                        Jane Davidson Family Register Sampler
                           Windham Township, Rockingham, New Hampshire                            

Click picture for larger image

        
16 " x 17 1/4".    18 1/2" x 19 3/4 " including possibly the ori- ginal gilt frame.  Jane's beautiful sampler is a stunning example of an American Family Register.  This group of samplers is fam- ous for their spectacular floral borders and Jane's sampler is certainly no exception.  She stitched two wonderful diamond patterned cornucopias filled with gorgeous florals growing up the sides and across the top of the piece.   And an absolutely won- derful addition is the lovely scene at the bottom of the sampler.  Perhaps one of those houses is the house that Jane grew up in.   Jane was born on December 7, 1808 in Windham Township, Rockingham County, New Hampshire.  Her sampler depicts the Family Register of Deacon William Davidson (1761- 1839), his wife Jane Barnet (1765-1832) and their 8 children.
  

Click picture for larger image.

Her verse reads:

" The genealogy of Jane Davidson wrought 1821.
What nothing earthly gives, or can destroy
The soul's calm sunshine and the heart felt joy
Is virtues's prize."

We have an exceptional amount of provenance on this lovely sampler.   We also have a wonderful hand colored fraktur with all of the same names and dates as the sampler.   It measures 9 1/2" x 11 3/4" in its painted wood frame.   In addition we have five early 19th century handwritten letters or notes, three of which pertain to two of William's daugh- ters'qualifications to teach school at the Pinkerton Academy in Derry, New Hampshire.
                                                                                                  

Click picture for larger image.

 
There is some obvious staining along the left side of the sam- pler as well as a bit of darkening in the top right corner of the piece.   And there is some thread loss, primarily in the verse area.  The verse is not entirely legible, but I was able to read enough to identify the quote by Alexander Pope.  But there are no holes in the fabric and the colors of the silk are still vibrant.   The sampler has been backed with another piece of linen and mounted on acid-free board.

The fraktur also shows a bit of staining, but the colors are still lovely.  The names and dates have faded a bit but are defin- itely legible.   The fraktur has also been mounted on acid-free board.   This sampler comes with a notebook of family letters and notes.                                                                                                                             $4250

                                                                         #6378                                                                                                      Mary Bradshaw Sampler
                                                  

Click picture for larger image

16 1/4" x 18 1/2".   22 1/2" x 24 1/2 " including a period  frame.   This is perhaps one of the most charming samplers that I have ever been able to offer.  In the bottom corners of the sampler, Mary has stitched and labeled a "Swiss Boy" and a  "Swiss Girl".  They both wear hats with feathers and are costumed in a very interesting manner.   The boy looks like a pirate while the girl is wearing a turbin.   But what is particularly charming is that it is the girl who is smoking a pipe!   So at the age of 11 in 1844 maybe Mary was the world's first woman's libber!

Mary's sampler also features lots of other wonderfully realistic motifs including birds, florals, baskets of fruit, two really nice seated dogs and two truly beautiful angels. 

Click picture for larger image.

Mary also added a lovely verse which reads:

" Boast not thyself of to-morrow
for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth".

She signed her beautiful sampler " Mary Bradshaw's Work Aged 11 Years  1844".                                                                                                                                                         

Click picture for larger image.

                   

There is an overall darkening to Mary's sampler.   But there are no holes in the fabric and no losses to the silk.  The colors are still quite vibrant in spite of the darkening to the fabric.  So the sampler is still in good condition.                                                                                                                                                                           $1150

                                                                         #6869                                                                                                  Werter Memorial Embroidery
                                            

Click here for larger image

12 " x 14"    18 " x 19 3/4 " including a modern oval frame.   Often, needlework of the 18th and 19th centuries was inspired by paintings, poems or books of the time, as is the case with this unusual piece.   The Sorrows of Werter by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was originally published in Germany in 1774.  The English translation was published in 1779.   This very special memorial embroidery was inspired by that book.   And what I find to be absolutely amazing is the fact that this lovely piece was stitched on blue felt.   The monument, and the lady's clothes and hat are appliqued pieces of felt, while her face is painted on paper. The remainder of the piece is stitched with silk.     
  

Click here for larger image.

The verse on the monument reads:

" Oh!  May the interventions of Charlotte
plead for the decay of Reason in Werter".

The top of the monument shows the name of Werter.  The young lady holds a prayer book and wears a lovely bonnet and a black cape.  The scene is surrounded with willow trees.   The embroidery is circa 1800 - 1820.                                                                                                       

Click here for larger image.

 

There are some holes in the felt, mostly near the tree trunk on the right.   There are also a couple of small holes near the top of the monument.   But there is very little thread loss and very little damage to the actual stitching.   This is a wonderful example of how important needlework was to a young girl's education.   The embroidery  has been mounted on acid-free board.                                                                                                                                           $945