Samplings: Antique samplers and silk embroideries from M. Finkel and Daughter

Current Selections

All samplers in our current selections are priced and available for sale. Read about their specific history, condition and research here.

Sampler Price Index

Assembled collection of samplers and small related objects on a large walnut hanging shelf
Please click on each item to view a larger image and information regarding that specific piece…

Phebe Ackerman, Fishkill, New York, 1831
We offer her fine sampler, which she eloquently and unusually notes, was "delineated by Phebe Ackerman aged 10 years 2 weeks 3 days Anno Domini 1831."

Louisa Arneke, Germany, 1792
…a great assortment of pictorial motifs as is presented on Louisa's sampler: cupboard on base, birds and trees, a chair and table, sewing pillow, baskets, deer, crayfish…

ASF, German sampler, dated 1766
Samplers made in the middle of the 18th century in northern Europe can offer interesting pictorial subjects arranged in pleasing compositions and executed in a fine vocabulary of stitches.

Henrietta Salara Baker, Plaistow, New Hampshire, 1823
While in Plaistow, Miss Baker worked this lovely family record…

Sarah Elizabeth Bannister, New England, circa 1820
This handsome and detailed house was rendered with a stone façade, a pitched roof and a widow's walk nested between two chimneys.

Two Samplers by Lucinda Beck, Montgomery County, New York, 1831 & 1836
Rarely do we find samplers from the same family let alone made by the same person.

Mary Belden, Burlington, Connecticut, 1835
The small town of Burlington, Connecticut, located 17 miles west of Hartford, was home to the family of Isaac and Sophia (Moses) Belden and their ten children.

Elizabeth Biegler, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1808
The eye is drawn to the border of oversized magenta and striped tulips. Large brightly colored flowers are a noted element in Philadelphia samplers, since the early band samplers from the area.

Agness Blackburn, Lancashire, England, circa 1838
...Miss Blackburn created an array of motifs; and in the English tradition, a symmetrical composition.

Annie E. Blinkhorn, Royal British Girls’ School, Southampton, England, 1867
...Annie practiced her delightful sampler with lettering in deep red…

M. A. Brearey, Quaker Darning Sampler, England, 1816
This 1816 darning sampler, made by M.A. Brearey, bears a strong resemblance to Ackworth School darning samplers.

Janet Brodie, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1798
...Brodie stitched EDINBURGH along the bottom of her work.

Heloise Bruhiere, Rouen, France, 1822
French samplers surface infrequently as the tradition of samplermaking was not integral to the education of young French girls.

Bullfinch and Basket of Strawberries, England, circa 1825
...details such as the pairs of cherries joined at their stems and the stylish scroll contribute greatly to the composition.

Mary Cadwallader, Philadelphia area, Pennsylvania, 1836
The Cadwallader family of Philadelphia, beginning with John Cadwallader who emigrated from Wales in 1697, is one of the most distinguished families in the early history of America.

Paula Casyanaza, Spain or Colonial Spain, circa 1840
...large and very handsome sampler made by Paula Casyanaza circa 1840, with many splendid borders (worked in the classic four-sided format) and with its original corner tassels fashioned from the embroidery silks.

Nancy Clark, Tewksbury, Massachusetts, 1818
...while the family information is complete, the floral border seems to have proven to be too daunting a task and remains greatly unfinished.

Darning Sampler, northern Europe, 1788
...the darning samplers created by these accomplished needleworkers are considered very desirable as they exhibit both refined techniques and stunning graphic qualities.

Basket of Flowers with Butterflies and Sheep, Delaware, circa 1810
...this exuberant silk embroidered picture with its latticework basket of flowers sitting on a hill of plants, berries and miniature sheep.

Marian Diamond, Albany, New York, 1811
...Miss Diamond inscribes her sampler after her alphabets, "Marian Diamond Her Work Albany May 6th 1811."

Dutch Motif Sampler Initialed LVG, 1786
This outstanding sampler is one of the most beautifully worked Dutch samplers we have come across in years.

Elsey Earle, under the instruction of Miss Field, Bergen County, New Jersey, 1806
Adam and Eve samplers were rarely made by American schoolgirls…

Mary Ann Egee, New Jersey or Pennsylvania, 1830
...splendid large pictorial sampler features a double-chimney brick house flanked by curly-tailed dogs on a deep green lawn.

E.H., British Isles, 1740
...this features an outstanding portrayal of a curly-haired young lady holding a flower.

FCC, Plain Sewing Samplers, European, circa 1850
This pair of samplers demonstrates the plain sewing techniques of buttonhole making, darning and mending, and was made in the middle of the19th century in northern Europe.

Crestina Freddi, Italy, 1818
"This Alphabet was made by me Crestina Freddi in the year 1818."

Rebecca C. Fritts, Nine Partners School, Dutchess Co., New York, 1826
Rebecca's fine and precisely stitched sampler features a verse entitled "Religion" and surrounded by a curvilinear border of leaves and buds…

Charlotte Frye, Andover, Massachusetts, 1811
A hilly lawn forms the base for little trees and potted plants and flowers with splendid blossoms on vines growing out of a pair of baskets and forming the side borders.

Geffroy Family Print-work Silk Embroidery, Mary Balch School, Providence, Rhode Island, circa 1818
Amongst the excellent silk embroideries worked at the Balch School in Providence, Rhode Island is a group of print-work memorials, worked between 1810 and 1820.

Unfinished Motif sampler, Germany, circa 1770
...a finely worked, unfinished German sampler, made circa 1770 and exhibiting a wonderful polychrome palette.

Mercy Gillow, St. Nicholas at Wade, Kent, England, 1769
...sampler features a biblical verse in both French and English and is sophisticated as well as charming.

Adelia Ann Goshorn, Cincinnati, Ohio, circa 1833
...stylized arrangement of flowers within this sawtooth-decorated basket dominates the composition of this sampler, with little dogs, pine trees, stars and pairs of birds providing further embellishment.

Keziah A. Hilliard, Burlington Co. NJ, 1836
A house in three-quarter view has vines growing up one side and a wonderful large bird on its roof.

Mary Ann Hoch, Hanover Township, Lehigh Co., Pennsylvania, 1832
"Nur Die Tugend ist Der Weisen Zicht" which translates to "Only the quality of wisdom counts" is the aphorism inscribed on this rare Pennsylvania German sampler.

Sarah Holl, England, 1805
Lavish use of the eyelet stitch attests to the maker's aptitude in the needle arts and adds to the appeal of this antique sampler, which is reminiscent of the fine work that had appeared on sophisticated English samplers for centuries at that point.

Louisa Hose, England, dated 1840
This is a wonderful miniature sampler, which Louisa Hose stitched in September of 1840.

Mary Howe, England, 1832
Mary Howe worked her sampler in 1832; a handsome pictorial piece featuring a large 16th century manor house on a sloping lawn.

Mary How, school of Fanny Dow, Methuen, Massachusetts, 1816
Elaborate needlework forms the borders and showcases the maker's accomplishments.

ICH, Hamburg, Germany, 1819
...stitched the crest of the city of Hamburg: three towers of a castle flanked by a pair of crowned lions.

Buttonhole Sampler, initialed IDA, Germany, 1811
This is an exquisite little sampler which demonstrates the fine art of making buttonholes…

“John and Ellin” Ship sampler, Wales, circa 1825
The Register of Shipping, published yearly in London by the Society for the Registry of Shipping indicates that the "John and Ellin" (or Ellen) was built in Sunderland and sailed from 1822 until 1829.

Charlotte John, Regent Town, Sierra Leone, 1843
A handful of samplers are known to have been made at the missionary schools that were established in Sierra Leone, on the west coast of Africa.

Emily Knox, York County, Maine, 1826
While family record samplers were made throughout New England, we have not previously seen one of a similar design and execution.

Huldah M. LaRue, Polkville, Warren Co., New Jersey, 1854
...delightful depiction of a basket of flowers surrounded by stylish blossoms on stems and branches.

Sophie Letailleur, France, 1848
Included are depictions of a sailing ship, a large dog at a tree with a bird, vases of flowers and other large and colorful birds on branches.

Polly Loring, Hingham, Massachusetts, 1787
This fine 18th century American sampler was made in 1787 by Polly Loring of Hingham, Massachusetts and it is listed in the important 1921 book, American Samplers by Bolton and Coe.

Sally G. Lovejoy, Wilton, New Hampshire, circa 1810
…is a fine rarity: a delicately worked little American sampler that is listed in the highly important 1921 publication entitled American Samplers, by Bolton and Coe.

Ellen Augusta Mansfield, New Haven, Connecticut, 1845
Ellen practiced her alphabets incorporating the eyelet stitch, cross stitch and four-sided stitch.

Sarah Martin, Ormskirk, England, 1830
...a noteworthy verse entitled "Inscription on a Sundial." The verse was written by Nathaniel Cotton (1705-1788) and published in 1791.

“Specimens of Needlework,” Letitia Mercer, Derrylee School, Northern Ireland, 1863
…its pages are filled with 52 different examples, including piecework, specimens of button-holes, mending and darning in various patterns, four samplers…

Miniature Sampler, British Isles, circa 1800
This wonderful miniature sampler exhibits the symmetrical composition typical of many samplers from the British Isles.

E. Myers, Dog Sitting on Cushion, American, 1840
A folky, fully-worked picture that portrays a fine spotted dog sitting on a tasseled cushion…

Julia Naden, American or English, 1837
"Piety and virtue are particularly graceful and becoming in all."

Needlework Bird on Paper, American, circa 1810
Paper is an unforgiving ground, as needle pricks will show even if a stitch is pulled out.

Susanna Peacock, England, 1808
Central to the sampler's focus is a beautifully detailed Georgian brick house

"Memen to Mori" silk embroidery, Moses and Elizabeth Peck, Boston, Massachusetts, circa 1810
The classical lines of Federal design of the period form the black and white monument which is surmounted by a large flame-top urn.

Pennsylvania German Sampler dated 1820, Warwick, Lancaster County, PA
…samplers made by Mennonites from the Warwick area of Lancaster County, north of the city of Lancaster, share strong regional characteristics and the specific elements that appear on this finely worked 1820 example.

Les Pensionnaires Pieuse, France, circa 1820
This splendid silk embroidered picture depicts "The Pious Pensioners," a young lady and a girl in an outdoor setting, with a little shrine set up in a tree.

Mary Piercy, England, 1810
A delightful pictorial sampler, this was made by 9 year old Mary Piercy who worked a poem that is actually an acrostic (the first letter of each line, when read vertically spells, "M. Piercy").

Pocketbook, European, late 18th century
Delicate pocketbook bears the German inscription "A memento of our friendship," inscribed on a cottage, reminding us that pocket books were often gifts of affection.

Ann Reed, England, 1802
A black iron bell hangs in the bell tower and the weathervane sits above, quite charmingly with its East and West designations backwards.

Postrema Ridgway, Burlington Co., NJ, 1805
…splendid small pictorial sampler boasts excellent composition and outstanding needlework. It was made by nine-year-old Postrema Ridgway who was a Quaker girl…

Anne Roe, Philadelphia, dated 1793
…this outstanding sampler is an addition to the important group of "house or castle on terraced lawn" samplers made in Philadelphia…

Eliza Sanger, Newton Academy, Mass., 1805
While the school has been known to scholars and historians, this is the only sampler known to have been made at the Newton Academy.

Laura M. Soley, Duanesburg, Schenectady County, New York, 1846
...handsome alphabet and family record sampler, which also portrays a fine large building with four chimneys and side wings.

Spot Sampler, England, mid 17th century
…this fine spot motif sampler worked in England circa 1640 to 1660; it exhibits twenty beautifully worked geometric designs…

Elizabeth Stanford, probably Scottish, circa 1790
Scottish schoolteachers frequently held their students to high standards and their samplers are wonderful indicators.

Stanwood Family Silk Embroidered Memorial, Massachusetts or New York, circa 1805
The death of George Washington in December of 1799 sparked a national vogue for public mourning that endured for decades.

Maria L. Stauffer, Lancaster Co. Pennsylvania, 1867
Decorative arts made by the Pennsylvania Germans display their love of strong color and composition.

Harriet Stevens, Celebrating Gen. Lafayette’s Visit, Kennebunk, Maine, 1825
Harriet Stevens, an eight-year-old living in the small coastal town of Kennebunk, Maine, worked her sampler to document and celebrate the historic visit of General Lafayette.

Mahala Tarr, Gloucester, Massachusetts, 1831
Two fashionably dressed ladies provide the focal point for this remarkable 1831 sampler made by Mahala Tarr of Gloucester, Massachusetts.

Isabella Taylor, Birmingham, England, 1783
a fine sampler made by Isabella Taylor of Birmingham, England who used Roman Numerals to indicate the year the sampler was made

Abby Treadway, Middletown, Connecticut, 1797
A precise and very well executed little sampler, this is signed, "Abby Treadway Mar'k This July 13th 1797."

Elma M. Tripp, Washington, Dutchess County, New York, 1830
This sampler shows strong influence from the Quaker teaching in this area…

Sarah Tyson, Skippack, Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania, 1840
...included an assortment of classic Pennsylvania German motifs such as the stylized geometric flowers in baskets, pairs of birds and a table set with a bowl and a pair of pitchers.

Maria Van Wyk, Dutch Darning Sampler, Holland, 1762
Not only is this an outstanding visual and technical achievement but it is unusual in that it is accompanied by interesting family information.

Beadwork Picture, A. Ville, France, 1838
"Given to the dearest of brothers 1838 by A. Ville," was worked in gold-colored beads set against a deep azure blue.

Gesualda Visibelli, Italian sampler, 1800
...inscription reads, "Io Gesualda Visibelli Feci Nell'Anno Del Signore MDCCC," which translates to, "I, Gesualda Visibelli, made this in the year of our Lord, 1800."

Dolly Warriner Silk Embroidery, Mary Balch School, Providence, Rhode Island, circa 1810
An outstanding group of silk embroidered memorials was made at Mary Balch's renowned school in Providence, Rhode Island.

Kitty Waterman, England, 1804
One of the skills that young needleworkers were taught was whitework darning, which would hold obviously practical, life-long applications.

Ann Webster, England, circa 1815
Ann fairly filled her large linen ground with a great assortment of designs and imagery: animals, birds, sailing ships, striped baskets of flowering plants and a meticulously worked moralistic verse.

Mary White, Rampton, Nottinghamshire, England, 1800
Various motifs fill the tan linen ground on this charming pictorial sampler worked by Mary White at the age of 12…

Mary Wing, Braceby, Lincolnshire, England, 1845
...features a fine three-chimney house on a hill, a pair of stately pine trees and a geometric star.

Eve Ann Yundt, Baltimore, 1828
...an unusual and very large alphabet sampler embellished with many narrow bands and line-end motifs, all surrounded by an intricate border.

Updated: Nov. 11th

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A website we highly recommend for great information and an excellent education in antique samplers.

antiquesamplers.org

Other Ways to View Our Samplers

Our inventory is extensive, and many items are not offered here. You can see these samplers in the following way:

in SAMPLINGS,
our print catalogue,
at our shop, and
at the antiques shows in which we exhibit.

Special Requests

Through our sources, we can often locate the sampler that you are looking for. Perhaps you are seeking a sampler with a particular family name, or a sampler from a certain town or geographic location. Let us know and we will inform you when we find it. Please call us to discuss your wants or collecting objectives; you will find us knowledgeable and helpful.

SAMPLINGS - The Print Catalogue

SAMPLINGS is our full color catalogue that is mailed twice a year, and each issue offers approximately 40 antique samplers and needlework items, pictured, fully described and priced. The annual subscription is $45 for two issues. Find out how to subscribe now!

Current Selections

Phebe Ackerman, Fishkill, New York, 1831 We offer her fine sampler, which she eloquently and unusually notes, was "delineated by Phebe Ackerman aged 10 years 2 weeks 3 days Anno Domini 1831."

Louisa Arneke, Germany, 1792 …a great assortment of pictorial motifs as is presented on Louisa's sampler: cupboard on base, birds and trees, a chair and table, sewing pillow, baskets, deer, crayfish…

ASF, German sampler, dated 1766 Samplers made in the middle of the 18th century in northern Europe can offer interesting pictorial subjects arranged in pleasing compositions and executed in a fine vocabulary of stitches.

Henrietta Salara Baker, Plaistow, New Hampshire, 1823 While in Plaistow, Miss Baker worked this lovely family record…

Sarah Elizabeth Bannister, New England, circa 1820 This handsome and detailed house was rendered with a stone façade, a pitched roof and a widow's walk nested between two chimneys.

Two Samplers by Lucinda Beck, Montgomery County, New York, 1831 & 1836 Rarely do we find samplers from the same family let alone made by the same person.

Mary Belden, Burlington, Connecticut, 1835 The small town of Burlington, Connecticut, located 17 miles west of Hartford, was home to the family of Isaac and Sophia (Moses) Belden and their ten children.

Elizabeth Biegler, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1808 The eye is drawn to the border of oversized magenta and striped tulips. Large brightly colored flowers are a noted element in Philadelphia samplers, since the early band samplers from the area.

Agness Blackburn, Lancashire, England, circa 1838 ...Miss Blackburn created an array of motifs; and in the English tradition, a symmetrical composition.

Annie E. Blinkhorn, Royal British Girls’ School, Southampton, England, 1867 ...Annie practiced her delightful sampler with lettering in deep red…

M. A. Brearey, Quaker Darning Sampler, England, 1816 This 1816 darning sampler, made by M.A. Brearey, bears a strong resemblance to Ackworth School darning samplers.

Janet Brodie, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1798 ...Brodie stitched EDINBURGH along the bottom of her work.

Heloise Bruhiere, Rouen, France, 1822 French samplers surface infrequently as the tradition of samplermaking was not integral to the education of young French girls.

Bullfinch and Basket of Strawberries, England, circa 1825 ...details such as the pairs of cherries joined at their stems and the stylish scroll contribute greatly to the composition.

Mary Cadwallader, Philadelphia area, Pennsylvania, 1836 The Cadwallader family of Philadelphia, beginning with John Cadwallader who emigrated from Wales in 1697, is one of the most distinguished families in the early history of America.

Paula Casyanaza, Spain or Colonial Spain, circa 1840 ...large and very handsome sampler made by Paula Casyanaza circa 1840, with many splendid borders (worked in the classic four-sided format) and with its original corner tassels fashioned from the embroidery silks.

Nancy Clark, Tewksbury, Massachusetts, 1818 ...while the family information is complete, the floral border seems to have proven to be too daunting a task and remains greatly unfinished.

Darning Sampler, northern Europe, 1788 ...the darning samplers created by these accomplished needleworkers are considered very desirable as they exhibit both refined techniques and stunning graphic qualities.

Basket of Flowers with Butterflies and Sheep, Delaware, circa 1810 ...this exuberant silk embroidered picture with its latticework basket of flowers sitting on a hill of plants, berries and miniature sheep.

Marian Diamond, Albany, New York, 1811 ...Miss Diamond inscribes her sampler after her alphabets, "Marian Diamond Her Work Albany May 6th 1811."

Dutch Motif Sampler Initialed LVG, 1786 This outstanding sampler is one of the most beautifully worked Dutch samplers we have come across in years.

Elsey Earle, under the instruction of Miss Field, Bergen County, New Jersey, 1806 Adam and Eve samplers were rarely made by American schoolgirls…

Mary Ann Egee, New Jersey or Pennsylvania, 1830 ...splendid large pictorial sampler features a double-chimney brick house flanked by curly-tailed dogs on a deep green lawn.

E.H., British Isles, 1740 ...this features an outstanding portrayal of a curly-haired young lady holding a flower.

FCC, Plain Sewing Samplers, European, circa 1850 This pair of samplers demonstrates the plain sewing techniques of buttonhole making, darning and mending, and was made in the middle of the19th century in northern Europe.

Crestina Freddi, Italy, 1818 "This Alphabet was made by me Crestina Freddi in the year 1818."

Rebecca C. Fritts, Nine Partners School, Dutchess Co., New York, 1826 Rebecca's fine and precisely stitched sampler features a verse entitled "Religion" and surrounded by a curvilinear border of leaves and buds…

Charlotte Frye, Andover, Massachusetts, 1811 A hilly lawn forms the base for little trees and potted plants and flowers with splendid blossoms on vines growing out of a pair of baskets and forming the side borders.

Geffroy Family Print-work Silk Embroidery, Mary Balch School, Providence, Rhode Island, circa 1818 Amongst the excellent silk embroideries worked at the Balch School in Providence, Rhode Island is a group of print-work memorials, worked between 1810 and 1820.

Unfinished Motif sampler, Germany, circa 1770 ...a finely worked, unfinished German sampler, made circa 1770 and exhibiting a wonderful polychrome palette.

Mercy Gillow, St. Nicholas at Wade, Kent, England, 1769 ...sampler features a biblical verse in both French and English and is sophisticated as well as charming.

Adelia Ann Goshorn, Cincinnati, Ohio, circa 1833 ...stylized arrangement of flowers within this sawtooth-decorated basket dominates the composition of this sampler, with little dogs, pine trees, stars and pairs of birds providing further embellishment.

Keziah A. Hilliard, Burlington Co. NJ, 1836 A house in three-quarter view has vines growing up one side and a wonderful large bird on its roof.

Mary Ann Hoch, Hanover Township, Lehigh Co., Pennsylvania, 1832 "Nur Die Tugend ist Der Weisen Zicht" which translates to "Only the quality of wisdom counts" is the aphorism inscribed on this rare Pennsylvania German sampler.

Sarah Holl, England, 1805 Lavish use of the eyelet stitch attests to the maker's aptitude in the needle arts and adds to the appeal of this antique sampler, which is reminiscent of the fine work that had appeared on sophisticated English samplers for centuries at that point.

Louisa Hose, England, dated 1840 This is a wonderful miniature sampler, which Louisa Hose stitched in September of 1840.

Mary Howe, England, 1832 Mary Howe worked her sampler in 1832; a handsome pictorial piece featuring a large 16th century manor house on a sloping lawn.

Mary How, school of Fanny Dow, Methuen, Massachusetts, 1816 Elaborate needlework forms the borders and showcases the maker's accomplishments.

ICH, Hamburg, Germany, 1819 ...stitched the crest of the city of Hamburg: three towers of a castle flanked by a pair of crowned lions.

Buttonhole Sampler, initialed IDA, Germany, 1811 This is an exquisite little sampler which demonstrates the fine art of making buttonholes…

“John and Ellin” Ship sampler, Wales, circa 1825 The Register of Shipping, published yearly in London by the Society for the Registry of Shipping indicates that the "John and Ellin" (or Ellen) was built in Sunderland and sailed from 1822 until 1829.

Charlotte John, Regent Town, Sierra Leone, 1843 A handful of samplers are known to have been made at the missionary schools that were established in Sierra Leone, on the west coast of Africa.

Emily Knox, York County, Maine, 1826 While family record samplers were made throughout New England, we have not previously seen one of a similar design and execution.

Huldah M. LaRue, Polkville, Warren Co., New Jersey, 1854 ...delightful depiction of a basket of flowers surrounded by stylish blossoms on stems and branches.

Sophie Letailleur, France, 1848 Included are depictions of a sailing ship, a large dog at a tree with a bird, vases of flowers and other large and colorful birds on branches.

Polly Loring, Hingham, Massachusetts, 1787 This fine 18th century American sampler was made in 1787 by Polly Loring of Hingham, Massachusetts and it is listed in the important 1921 book, American Samplers by Bolton and Coe.

Sally G. Lovejoy, Wilton, New Hampshire, circa 1810 …is a fine rarity: a delicately worked little American sampler that is listed in the highly important 1921 publication entitled American Samplers, by Bolton and Coe.

Ellen Augusta Mansfield, New Haven, Connecticut, 1845 Ellen practiced her alphabets incorporating the eyelet stitch, cross stitch and four-sided stitch.

Sarah Martin, Ormskirk, England, 1830 ...a noteworthy verse entitled "Inscription on a Sundial." The verse was written by Nathaniel Cotton (1705-1788) and published in 1791.

“Specimens of Needlework,” Letitia Mercer, Derrylee School, Northern Ireland, 1863 …its pages are filled with 52 different examples, including piecework, specimens of button-holes, mending and darning in various patterns, four samplers…

Miniature Sampler, British Isles, circa 1800 This wonderful miniature sampler exhibits the symmetrical composition typical of many samplers from the British Isles.

E. Myers, Dog Sitting on Cushion, American, 1840 A folky, fully-worked picture that portrays a fine spotted dog sitting on a tasseled cushion…

Julia Naden, American or English, 1837 "Piety and virtue are particularly graceful and becoming in all."

Needlework Bird on Paper, American, circa 1810 Paper is an unforgiving ground, as needle pricks will show even if a stitch is pulled out.

Susanna Peacock, England, 1808 Central to the sampler's focus is a beautifully detailed Georgian brick house

"Memen to Mori" silk embroidery, Moses and Elizabeth Peck, Boston, Massachusetts, circa 1810 The classical lines of Federal design of the period form the black and white monument which is surmounted by a large flame-top urn.

Pennsylvania German Sampler dated 1820, Warwick, Lancaster County, PA …samplers made by Mennonites from the Warwick area of Lancaster County, north of the city of Lancaster, share strong regional characteristics and the specific elements that appear on this finely worked 1820 example.

Les Pensionnaires Pieuse, France, circa 1820 This splendid silk embroidered picture depicts "The Pious Pensioners," a young lady and a girl in an outdoor setting, with a little shrine set up in a tree.

Mary Piercy, England, 1810 A delightful pictorial sampler, this was made by 9 year old Mary Piercy who worked a poem that is actually an acrostic (the first letter of each line, when read vertically spells, "M. Piercy").

Pocketbook, European, late 18th century Delicate pocketbook bears the German inscription "A memento of our friendship," inscribed on a cottage, reminding us that pocket books were often gifts of affection.

Ann Reed, England, 1802 A black iron bell hangs in the bell tower and the weathervane sits above, quite charmingly with its East and West designations backwards.

Postrema Ridgway, Burlington Co., NJ, 1805 …splendid small pictorial sampler boasts excellent composition and outstanding needlework. It was made by nine-year-old Postrema Ridgway who was a Quaker girl…

Anne Roe, Philadelphia, dated 1793 …this outstanding sampler is an addition to the important group of "house or castle on terraced lawn" samplers made in Philadelphia…

Eliza Sanger, Newton Academy, Mass., 1805 While the school has been known to scholars and historians, this is the only sampler known to have been made at the Newton Academy.

Laura M. Soley, Duanesburg, Schenectady County, New York, 1846 ...handsome alphabet and family record sampler, which also portrays a fine large building with four chimneys and side wings.

Spot Sampler, England, mid 17th century …this fine spot motif sampler worked in England circa 1640 to 1660; it exhibits twenty beautifully worked geometric designs…

Elizabeth Stanford, probably Scottish, circa 1790 Scottish schoolteachers frequently held their students to high standards and their samplers are wonderful indicators.

Stanwood Family Silk Embroidered Memorial, Massachusetts or New York, circa 1805 The death of George Washington in December of 1799 sparked a national vogue for public mourning that endured for decades.

Maria L. Stauffer, Lancaster Co. Pennsylvania, 1867 Decorative arts made by the Pennsylvania Germans display their love of strong color and composition.

Harriet Stevens, Celebrating Gen. Lafayette’s Visit, Kennebunk, Maine, 1825 Harriet Stevens, an eight-year-old living in the small coastal town of Kennebunk, Maine, worked her sampler to document and celebrate the historic visit of General Lafayette.

Mahala Tarr, Gloucester, Massachusetts, 1831 Two fashionably dressed ladies provide the focal point for this remarkable 1831 sampler made by Mahala Tarr of Gloucester, Massachusetts.

Isabella Taylor, Birmingham, England, 1783 a fine sampler made by Isabella Taylor of Birmingham, England who used Roman Numerals to indicate the year the sampler was made

Abby Treadway, Middletown, Connecticut, 1797 A precise and very well executed little sampler, this is signed, "Abby Treadway Mar'k This July 13th 1797."

Elma M. Tripp, Washington, Dutchess County, New York, 1830 This sampler shows strong influence from the Quaker teaching in this area…

Sarah Tyson, Skippack, Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania, 1840 ...included an assortment of classic Pennsylvania German motifs such as the stylized geometric flowers in baskets, pairs of birds and a table set with a bowl and a pair of pitchers.

Maria Van Wyk, Dutch Darning Sampler, Holland, 1762 Not only is this an outstanding visual and technical achievement but it is unusual in that it is accompanied by interesting family information.

Beadwork Picture, A. Ville, France, 1838 "Given to the dearest of brothers 1838 by A. Ville," was worked in gold-colored beads set against a deep azure blue.

Gesualda Visibelli, Italian sampler, 1800 ...inscription reads, "Io Gesualda Visibelli Feci Nell'Anno Del Signore MDCCC," which translates to, "I, Gesualda Visibelli, made this in the year of our Lord, 1800."

Dolly Warriner Silk Embroidery, Mary Balch School, Providence, Rhode Island, circa 1810 An outstanding group of silk embroidered memorials was made at Mary Balch's renowned school in Providence, Rhode Island.