#6964                                                                                                      Sarah Gillatt Sampler               

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11 1/2 " x 16" oval.   14 1/2 " x 18 3/4 " including a vintage  frame. It is extremely rare to find a sampler stitched in an oval format.  Sarah's lovely piece is only the second one I have seen. Only eight years of age when she stitched her sampler, Sarah's workmanship is excellent.  She started with three sets of alphabets (including one worked in eyelet stitch) separated with small dividing bands.  Her first verse mentions the "Feast of Easter" while her second verse mentions her parents.   And finally, she added the beautiful hanging basket of flowers sur- rounded by ribbons and garlands of foliage and flowers.  For a child of only eight years she demonstrated surprising ability and creativity.  Her sampler is much prettier than the pictures show.

 
Her verse reads:  

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"The holy Feast of Easter was enjoin'd,
To bring Christ's Resurrection to our Mind:
Rise then from Sinas he did from the Grave:
That by his Merits he our Souls might save"

This I have done to let You see,
What care my Parents took of me:
With Care and Pains this I have wrought
And finish'd with a Virgin's Thought"

She signed her sampler "Sarah Gillatt   1798:   aged 8 Years".                                                                                                 

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There is some darkening in the center of Sarah's lovely sampler.   But there are no holes in the fabric and no losses to the silk.   The eyelet alphabet is worked in a very light color and is a bit difficult to see from a distance, but the colors are otherwise still vibrant.  The sampler has been mounted on acid-free board.                                                                                                                                                                                                            $1835.00

                                                                             #6963                                                                                                      Scottish Thistle Sampler              

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10 1/2 " x 13" oval.   15 1/2 " x 17 1/2 " including a modern frame. While this unusual sampler is not signed or dated, it appears to be quite early, probably late 18th century.   Several of the motifs are commonly found on Scottish samplers including the undulating pansy band, a peacock, the trees made up of diamonds and, of course the stunning thistle.  The lovely sampler also includes a delicate honeysuckle vine border and an unusual bargello-like motif that is actually worked in cross stitch.

 
  

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There is no verse on the sampler.  The building in the middle could be either a house or a church.   It has some interesting spire-like pieces on the roof.   In the center just above the doors, our sampler maker stitched the numbers 1234 and below that the numbers 98.   I don't know if the numbers actually mean something or if she was merely practicing numbers.   As mentioned earlier, this is a very unusual sampler.                                                                                  

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The condition of the sampler is very good.   The only holes are on the outer edge of the fabric.   The colors are still quite vibrant except for the light cream color, and there are no thread losses.   All in all, this is an early, interesting Scottish sampler in very good condition.  It has been mounted on acid-free board.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 $2450.00

                                                                             #6764                                                                                                Martha Holmes Quaker Sampler              

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16 3/4 " x 16 3/4".    19 1/2 " x 19 1/2 " including a modern frame. Martha's elegant sampler is filled with motifs we have come to associate with pieces produced in Quaker schools.  The florals are very characteristic as are the three sets of two birds facing each other.   The lovely and elaborate floral border is fairly unusual for a a Quaker piece but I have no doubt that Martha attended a Quaker school.   Martha used several different stitches including cross, stem, satin and queen stitch.   

 

Her verse entitled "A Prayer" reads:  

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"Lord search and purify my heart
Make it clean in every part
And when tis clean O keep it so
For that is more than I can do".

She signed her sampler "Martha Holmes   1829".                                                                                                 

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There is some noticable deterioration of the fabric just outside the top border, but the rest of the fabric is in very good condition.  And the last line of the verse has some thread loss and is difficult to read   But there are no other thread losses and the sampler is in overall good condition.  It has been mounted on acid-free board.                                                                                                                                                                                       $2250.00

     #6957 - 17th c. Band Sampler

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7 12/" x 23".   11 3/4" x 27 3/4" including new burled wood frame. This circa 1680 band sampler is incredibly rare.

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  For obvious reasons, finding samplers with this kind of age is exceptionally difficult.   And this stunning sampler is in absolutely amazing condition.   This exquisite piece would be a fabulous addition to any collection.

While the sampler is not signed or dated, there is absolutely no doubt as to the very early circa date.  If anything, the sampler may actually be earlier than 1680.   Most of the motifs on this sampler are motifs that we usually see in pieces in well known museum collections.  Using shades of blue, green and cream silk, our sampler maker stitched band after band of gorgeous florals intersperced with delicate dividing bands worked in many different stitches.

This sampler was not stitched by a young or beginning stitcher.    The techniques used in this magnifiscent needle- work are characteristic of an advanced stitcher from the 17th century. The most amazing thing about this stunning sampler is that it is completely reversible!   Because the back of the sampler (see picture #4) is just as beautiful as the front, we have framed the sampler with glass on both sides.  And I am actually tempted to hang it backwards!                                                                                 
    

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The condition of this lovely sampler is just as amazing as its extreme age.   There are two tiny holes in the middle of the whitework but no other holes anywhere.  There are three very small dark stains, two at the top and one at the bottom. And there is a bit of overall darkening, but all of these these things are very minor.   This sampler is in wonderful condition.   It is framed with air space between the double glazing.                                                                                        $6500.00

                                                                             #5366                                                                                                      Elizabeth Bogey Sampler               

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9 1/2 " x 12 1/2".   14 1/2 " x 17 1/2 " including a lovely19th century bird's eye maple frame.   Elizabeth's lovely sampler is filled with beautiful motifs worked in really pretty pastel shades of silk.   There are two multi-colored pillars topped with flower filled urns and an arch of delicate florals.   There are trees, birds and baskets of fruit.  The obvious overall appeal is both delicate and artistic.  In spite of the thirty-three years difference in the dates, Elizabeth's sampler is very similar to the Jane Summers sampler, which is pictured below.  I believe that both pieces were worked in the same school.    You can read more about that in the next sampler description.  I have had both of these lovely pieces in my own collection for many years.   Her use of the lower case "f" instead of the letter "s" in her verse is typical of a sampler of this early date.
Her verse reads:  

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"O pleafing Solitude O bleft retreat
Choice of the prudent  envy of the great.
By the pure ftream or in thy moving shade
We court fair Wifdom that Celeftial maid:
The genuine offspring of its loved Embrace.
Strangers on Earth are Innocence and Peace.
Here from the ways of men laid fafe on shore:
We fmile to hear the diftant tempest roar:
Here bleft with health with bufinefs unperplexed
This life we relifh and infure the next."

She signed her sampler "Elizabeth Bogey   Aged 10   1804".                                                                                                 

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In spite of its beauty, there are some condition problems with this sampler.  The two side edges show a darkening that is probably caused by it having been glued down along the edges at some point.   It is now mounted on another piece of linen.   The bottom left corner is worn away and there are a few small holes, mostly in the verse area.   But the colors are vibrant and the silks are still showing a lovely sheen.  I have not taken this one out of the frame as I could see that it was mounted on linen.  The frame is showing a bit of wear.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        $1465.00

                                                                             #5835                                                                                                      Jane Summers Sampler              

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18 " x 16 1/2".    23 1/2 " x 22 1/4 " including its original 19th century frame.   As I mentioned in the above description of Elizabeth Bogey's sampler, I believe both of these beautiful samplers to have been done at the same school.   They are both probably English.  At first glance they appear to be very differ- ent, but when you look closer you see an amazing number of similarities.  Jane stitched exactly the same two multi-colored pillers topped with flower filled urns and an arch of delicate florals.   Even the flowers are all the same.  The two trees are the same as are the two birds.   But in thirty-three years time there are significant differences as well.   Jane added an alpha- bet, a lovely border and Adam & Eve standing under the apple tree.   It is extremely interesting to see both the similarities and the differences that occured over the years.

Jane's verse reads: 

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"Youth set right at first with ease go on,
And each new task is with new pleasure done.
But if neglected until they grow in years,
Then each fond Mother her dear darling spares.
Error becomes habitual and you'll find
Tis then hard labour to reform the mind."

She signed her sampler "Jane Summers  Sept 3rd 1837".                                                                                                

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Jane's sampler is in good condition.   There are a few small holes in the bottom left side of the border.   And the sampler is darker overall than the pictures show.  But there are no losses to the silks and the colors are vibrant.    I have not taken Jane's sampler out of the frame.                                                                                                                                                                                           $1850.00