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

| Beck | | Burnham | | Lincoln |

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."

Silk Purse owned by Sally Adams, with papers regarding her tenure as a student at Mary Balch’s school, 1813 The two most interesting papers are a personal note signed by Miss Balch…

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…

Catharine Baugh, Great Valley, PA, 1827 ...an outstanding, large Quaker sampler that was made by Catharine Baugh who lived in one of the loveliest areas of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Great Valley.

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.

The Finding of Moses, Ann Bramley, England 1846 The personality of this piece is purely mid 19th century, with fashionable costume for the young ladies and rich garlands of flowers forming borders.

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.

Sarah Jane Burnham, Ipswich, Massachusetts, circa 1833 …sampler is accompanied by a letter written in 1930 by a descendant…

Frances Crowell, Rahway, New Jersey, 1824 Baskets and pots of flowers, a good assortment of birds, a large eyelet-stitched alphabet…

Lydia Cummings, Winchendon, Mass., 1824 ...features alphabets, a full inscription which includes the town name, an interesting horizontal band and a series of narrow borders.

Darning Sampler, northern Europe, 1788 This darning sampler is a particularly splendid example and an impressive demonstration of the stitcher's skill.

Maria Dickson, Groton, Massachusetts, circa 1805 Her inscription reads, "Maria Dickson of Groton born Sept 22 1793."

Kittura Dillion, Abington, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, circa 1810 ..."Kittura Dillion is My Name / Abington is My Nation"…

Downe Family Register, Fitchburg, Massachusetts, circa 1825 The sampler is attractively worked; with long stitches creating both the ground and the columned arch, which give an overall luster to the sampler.

Jane Downing, Derby, England, 1797 Overall this is an unusual sampler, unlike the vast majority of those made by English schoolgirls in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Drawnwork Squares, mid 19th century Each square is intricately worked and different from the next, and each reveals the exceptional talents of the needleworker who created the many various patterns.

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

Mary Fox, Mrs. Wood School, Florida, Orange County, NY, 1843 They are entreaties that the enslaved African race be freed and that the race finds a place within Christianity – this, of course is a common theme of the period.

Friesian Sampler initialed T.E., Netherlands, 1791 A large windmill sits at the center of the composition, flanked by the equally large initials.

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.

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.

Henrieta Haas, Pennsylvania German, 1839 Certain of the specific motifs worked by Henrieta Haas point to the origin as being from eastern Berks County – the most obvious being the vase with seven flowers…

Maria Herbert, England, 1833 ..."the great whale and the elephant and the little worm that crawleth on the the ground."

Adam & Eve Sampler, Ann Hildreth, England, 1801 ...highly desirable as wonderfully pictorial samplers…

Lucinda Holmes, Newcastle, Maine, 1836 A simple marking sampler, this was made by nine-year-old Lucinda Holmes of Newcastle, Maine in 1836.

Eunice L. Holt, Hopewell, New Jersey, 1837 Most importantly Eunice noted that she worked her sampler in Hopewell, New Jersey.

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.

Lucy C. Huckins, Madbury, New Hampshire, 1829 Of course, it is always to a sampler's advantage when the maker included the name of her town within her inscription.

Delia Hull, Durham, Connecticut, 1812 Delia Hull was ten years old in 1812 when she worked this splendid sampler with a floral swag above and a lawn and garden scene below.

Jane Humphreys, Philadelphia area, PA, 1790 ...18th century samplers made by Quakers in Philadelphia and its immediate surrounding areas can feature strong regional characteristics and excellent needlework.

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

Jemima Jacacks, Nine Partners Boarding School, Dutchess County, New York, 1806 The school was much smaller than other American Quaker schools and subsequently far fewer Nine Partners School samplers were made…

“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.

Mary Ann Kendall, Ashby, Massachusetts, circa 1827 This sampler was included in the groundbreaking exhibition, "Family Record: Genealogical Watercolors and Needlework," at the Daughters of the American Revolution National Museum in 1989

Eliza Kenney, Cold Overton Asylum, Leicestershire, England, 1828 Samplers were made by young girls at fine private academies as well as at the orphanages, charity schools and residential asylums that educated the young girls who were from families of substantially lesser means.

Martha Lincoln, Leominster, Massachusetts, 1811 It is the second known sampler made by the same samplermaker. The first was in the Theodore Kapnek Collection…

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.

Elizabeth Ann Marks, probably New Jersey, 1808 ...the house is depicted frontally and with heavy outline but the many-mullioned windows and fanlight and checkerboard chimneys with slanting black smoke provide unusual and highly appealing detail.

Margaret Moffat, Greenock, Scotland, circa 1835 Miss Moffat worked a striking house with teal blue window shutters, or possibly the glass panes, and many red-beaked birds perched across the three checkered rooftops and four chimneys.

Hannah L. Paulin, Cumberland County, New Jersey, 1839 ...sampler belongs to an outstanding group made from the end of the 18th century through the early 1840s…

Mary Pearse, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 1810 ...classic Portsmouth fashion, it features strawberry plants on hillocks and a large basket filled with fruit.

"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.

Pictorial Sampler, Scotland, 1809 ...appreciated for its unusual composition, its folky imagery and its excellent needlework.

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.

Elizabeth Poultney, Baltimore, Maryland, 1804 Baltimore: Its History and Its People, published in 1912, provides a wealth of information about the family which traces its roots to Sir John de Poultney, four times Lord Mayor of London in the 14th century.

Clarrissa L. Pratt, Emily Comstock teacher, Southbridge, Massachusetts, 1827 ...a two-story house with vines growing up the sides, two stylized trees and a pair of pair of over-sized vases with her initials enclosed.

Rebecca Raisner, Lambertville, New Jersey, 1831 ...was the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Crouse) Raisner who were married in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and settled across the river in Lambertville, New Jersey.

Sophia L. Richardson, Cornish, New Hampshire, circa 1831 ...under the tutelage of Joann Cumings, as she so notes in her inscription.

Kezia Ridgway, Salem County, New Jersey, 1800 …part of the important collection belonging to Joan Stephens and studied by scholar Betty Ring…

Charlotte Rooks, Mrs. Easter Jones’ Charity School, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, England, 1822 "Charlotte Rooks Aged 12 Years Finished February 8 1822 Mrs. Jones School Hoddesdon."

Sarah Ross, American, 1803 Wonderful little pictorial elements satisfy the space at the end of each alphabet…

Russian Embroidery, Tver Region, late 19th Century …a wonderful example of traditional imagery from Tver, a region northwest of Moscow…

Adam & Eve Sampler by Jean Rutherford, Scotland, 1819 ...ivory snake wraps around the "apple" tree and the little scene is flanked by "Adem" and "eve."

Margaret Spender, England, 1810 ...beautifully worked large central motif of a tulip and two carnations sprouting from a double-handled vase is an example of one of the motifs exhibiting its origins in 16th century design.

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

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.

Matilda Stedman, Southbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts, 1828 Matilda Stedman, Southbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts, 1828 With alphabets above and potted flowering plants and a fruit tree below, it offers a sprightly composition…

Amy Gertrude Swaine, Queensbury National School, England, 1890 ...delightful example made by 8-year-old Amy Gertrude Swaine…

Margaret Swayer, Ohio Shaker Sampler, North Union Community, 1844 Samplers made within the Shaker communities are extremely rare…

Anna Symonds, Middleton, Massachusetts, 1805 An interesting group of finely worked samplers made in Salem, Danvers, Topsfield, Boxford and Middleton, feature the same unusual structure to the wide borders…

Pictorial Table Rug, probably New York State, circa 1860 ...outstanding example of folk art…

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

Matilda Taylor, Vassalboro, Maine, 1832 ...this sampler is entitled "A SAMPLER" and features a large Federal house with a dependency building.

Sally Thomas, Chester County, Pennsylvania, 1831 This particularly praiseworthy sampler was made in 1831 by Sally Thomas, a young lady from a Quaker family of East Bradford.

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.

Jane Waddington, Friends School, England, 1809 Quaker school samplers are amongst the most sought after of all schoolgirl samplers…

Janet Wallace, Stirling, Scotland, 1787 ...Scottish schoolgirls produced an outstanding body of pictorial samplers featuring houses with blue slate roofs set on lustrous green chenille lawns.

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.

Hannah Willets, Long Island, New York, 1824 The Willets family in New York began with Richard Willets who was born in England and who was amongst the first settlers of Hempstead, Long Island, circa 1658.

Mary Woodruff, Miss Barton’s School, Elizabeth Town, New Jersey, 1835 An outstanding group of samplers, now totaling four, is known to have been worked in Elizabeth Town, northern New Jersey, under the instruction of Miss Barton…

Woolwork Picture of a Countryside Church, England, circa 1840 It is fully worked in wool and portrays its subject with rich color and a particularly folky fluidity.

Rhoda Wooters, Georgetown Ridge, Dearborn County, Indiana, 1840 Samplers made west of Ohio are extremely rare and we are delighted to have acquired Rhoda Wooter's sampler which was made in Indiana in 1840.

Emma Wootton, English or American, 1840 ...her inscription was formed by 4-sided stitches, giving it a more open and delicate feel.

Ann Wright, England, 1840 …features a detailed rendition of St. Paul's Cathedral in London…

Sewing Tools and Related Items

Beadwork Case Initialed MC, European, circa 1850

Beadwork Case, European, circa 1850

Beadwork Eyeglass Case, European, circa 1850

Set of Wrought Iron Quilting Clamps, impressed "P. Bertsch", Pennsylvania, circa 1850-1870

Set of Wrought Iron Quilting Clamps with Flared Wingnuts and Filework, Pennsylvania, circa 1850-1870

Pinkeep, Eliza Cook, England, circa 1860 Young girls frequently made little needlworked objects as presentation pieces, and many of these served a practical purpose as tools for stitchers.

Beadwork Fob with Rampant Lion, England, mid 19th century

Needle Case signed "Worked by Ann Coleman abt 1832"

Miniature Turned Pin Cushion with Original Paint Decoration, American, circa 1850

“Merry Christmas” Pin Cushion, English, circa 1915 Amongst the clusters and linear decoration of pinned glass beads, British flags adorn each side of the top of the heart.

Whimsical Potholder, England, circa 1890

Decorated Sewing Clamp with Pin Cushion, American, c.1850

Spool Holder with Drawer, American, Early 19th Century

Loom-Woven Beadwork Tape, Europe, circa 1835

Treenware Olive Wood Thread Holder, probably English, late 19th century

Updated: July 27th

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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!