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

Mary Chamberlain Adams, Utica, New York, 1834
...Mary's maternal grandfather, Hon. John Curtis Chamberlain (1772-1834), represented New Hampshire in the United States Congress.

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.

Beadwork Picture, France, circa 1830
Thousands of tiny richly-colored beads were sewn to the background fabric to form this handsome landscape scene.

Pair of Birds and Rings Silk Embroidery, Europe, circa 1820
This may have been a marriage piece as indicated by the symbolic pair of birds, interlocked rings and Greek cross.

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

The Young Ladies Social Circle, established in 1847 in Piscataquog Village, Bedford, outside Manchester, New Hampshire A needleworked book cover containing the minutes of this charitable organization, made by a member, Elisabeth H. Hamblet, in 1849

Eleanor Brown, Plain Sewing Apron, England, 1882
…clearly accomplished at these skills when she completed this delightful and carefully made miniature apron which includes tucks, darns, buttonholes and border embroidery.

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

Jane Camen, England, 1714
…band sampler worked, quite remarkably, by a six year old, Jane Camen, in 1714. Her needlework would be considered of excellent quality for a schoolgirl of any age…

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.

Sarah Clark, Tewksbury, Massachusetts, circa 1812
Long, lustrous satin-stitches, one of the hallmarks of fine Massachusetts samplers, were used to form the large blossoms, leaves and vine; a white bow punctuates the bottom with well-placed four red buds allowing for further embellishment.

Asenath Colman, Ashby, Massachusetts, 1792
The inscription, which includes her birth date, the town name and the date the sampler was finished, is unusually complete, rendering this sampler a rare find.

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.

Grace H. Dougal, New Haven, Connecticut, 1830
…is a footed bowl with large and varied flowers fairly springing out of it…

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.

Pictorial English sampler, circa 1810
Unlike most English samplers we find, which are precise and symmetrical, this is a delightfully folky sampler with a wonderful landscape across the bottom.

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.

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.

Susan Garth, Union Hill Academy, Todd Co., Kentucky, 1840
Samplers from Kentucky are quite rare…

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.

Louisa Caroline Green, Triangle, Broome Co., New York, 1835
...charming sampler is a practice piece in many ways, specifically the repetition within the alphabets and the random nature of the many folky motifs and designs.

Mary Ann Harrison, Pennsylvania, 1827
...excellent quality needlework, a well-developed pictorial register, outstanding horizontal bands and a highly appealing aphorism: "Industry is itself a treasure."

Highland Scene Silk Embroidery, Scotland, circa 1830
...a large and beautifully worked sentimental scene set in the Scottish highlands, complete with a bagpiper, a young couple and a pair of cherubic children, all of them dressed in classic attire of the highlands.

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 Jastram, attributed to the Balch school, Providence, RI, 1818
Balch students also produced simple pieces as their early projects and these tend to feature alphabets and specific verse that were assigned by Miss Balch.

“John and Ellin” Ship sampler, England, 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.

Mary Joy, Pennsylvania, dated 1788
This sampler was worked by Mary Joy in 1788, folky and charming in its polychrome palette and oversized folky motifs.

Kandy School Missionary Sampler, Ceylon, 1884
The fascinating samplers made by the young girls at these schools exist, but are quite rare and we offer this example, a recent discovery and addition to the known body of work.

Ann Lambard, England, 1761
…endearing little marking sampler was stitched by Ann Lambard was worked in 1761, when she was only seven year old…

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.

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.

Hannah Merrell, Barkhamsted, Litchfield Co., Connecticut, 1829
Hannah Merrell states on her fine sampler that she was born April 21st 1819, and that she made it in 1829 in Barkhamsted.

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

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

Elizabeth Neavel, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 1829
This sampler was in the collection of Theodore H. Kapnek, one of the most highly regarded collectors of American samplers.

Sarah Parker, Massachusetts, 1799
...sampler fits into the tradition of 18th century samplers made in the towns of coastal northern Massachusetts, with little hillocks of plants and trees and deeply arcaded borders.

"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.

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.

Pocketbook with silver point and paper, European, circa 1790
Gold metallic threads form the background for the woven architectural motifs. One side depicts a grand cathedral and the other a brick-walled farm....

Pole Screen, Scottish, circa 1840
...this lovely tabletop pole screen with a needlework picture of a highlander: a young Scottish boy with his staff and shield and a feather in his cap.

Punched Paper, worked to celebrate Geo. Washington, American, circa 1875
...celebrate the life and accomplishments of George Washington.

Rebecca Riddiford, Map of Palestine, Oxford, England, 1834
...we have only known of one other sampler that depicts this particular ancient map.

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…

Sablé Beadwork, Coat of Arms, France, circa 1750
"Sablé" is the French word for "sand" and was used to describe the mid 18th century technique of stitching extremely fine glass beads to form a picture...

Nancy Sanborn, Gilmanton, New Hampshire, 1831
...a pair of unusual checkerboard flower pots flank a fascinating center element, which has its precedent in 18th century Boston band sampler design, with the addition of tiny birds and flowers decorating the enclosed spaces.

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.

Martha Sharp, England, 1741
Most striking, and rarely seen on a sampler, is a fine maze, worked here in deep blue stitches…

Mary Ann Shead, “The Great Exhibition”, High Laver, Essex, England, 1854
Mary Ann Shead stitched her outstanding rendition of the Crystal Palace in 1854, just three years later than The Great Exhibition of All Nations, for which this building was erected.

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.

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…

Elizabeth Turner, Greenock Female School of Industry, Scotland, 1830
...features a large and very interesting building, likely a depiction of the school building, with a young girl in the center archway. Quite whimsically, she is portrayed tossing a ball into the air.

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.

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.

Sarah Ann Westcott, Cumberland Co., New Jersey, 1839
A group of sophisticated, beautifully-made samplers, each with strong family documentation, comes from the area of Fairfield Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey.

Mary Winney, Scottish or American, 1804
The work itself is quite handsome. A wide array of decorative bands is interspersed with alphabets, and Miss Winney certainly practiced her eyelet stitch with perfection.

Ann Wright, England, 1840
...which features an unusual and detailed rendition of a church with a clock tower.

Silk Embroidery of Zebras, Continental, circa 1820
The subject matter of this beautifully worked silk embroidered picture is most appealing: two zebras recline next to a thatched roof structure amidst lush and exotic foliage.

Next Update : Sept. 15th

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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

Mary Chamberlain Adams, Utica, New York, 1834 ...Mary's maternal grandfather, Hon. John Curtis Chamberlain (1772-1834), represented New Hampshire in the United States Congress.

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.

Beadwork Picture, France, circa 1830 Thousands of tiny richly-colored beads were sewn to the background fabric to form this handsome landscape scene.

Pair of Birds and Rings Silk Embroidery, Europe, circa 1820 This may have been a marriage piece as indicated by the symbolic pair of birds, interlocked rings and Greek cross.

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

The Young Ladies Social Circle, established in 1847 in Piscataquog Village, Bedford, outside Manchester, New Hampshire A needleworked book cover containing the minutes of this charitable organization, made by a member, Elisabeth H. Hamblet, in 1849

Eleanor Brown, Plain Sewing Apron, England, 1882 …clearly accomplished at these skills when she completed this delightful and carefully made miniature apron which includes tucks, darns, buttonholes and border embroidery.

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

Jane Camen, England, 1714 …band sampler worked, quite remarkably, by a six year old, Jane Camen, in 1714. Her needlework would be considered of excellent quality for a schoolgirl of any age…

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.

Sarah Clark, Tewksbury, Massachusetts, circa 1812 Long, lustrous satin-stitches, one of the hallmarks of fine Massachusetts samplers, were used to form the large blossoms, leaves and vine; a white bow punctuates the bottom with well-placed four red buds allowing for further embellishment.

Asenath Colman, Ashby, Massachusetts, 1792 The inscription, which includes her birth date, the town name and the date the sampler was finished, is unusually complete, rendering this sampler a rare find.

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.

Grace H. Dougal, New Haven, Connecticut, 1830 …is a footed bowl with large and varied flowers fairly springing out of it…

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.

Pictorial English sampler, circa 1810 Unlike most English samplers we find, which are precise and symmetrical, this is a delightfully folky sampler with a wonderful landscape across the bottom.

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.

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.

Susan Garth, Union Hill Academy, Todd Co., Kentucky, 1840 Samplers from Kentucky are quite rare…

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.

Louisa Caroline Green, Triangle, Broome Co., New York, 1835 ...charming sampler is a practice piece in many ways, specifically the repetition within the alphabets and the random nature of the many folky motifs and designs.

Mary Ann Harrison, Pennsylvania, 1827 ...excellent quality needlework, a well-developed pictorial register, outstanding horizontal bands and a highly appealing aphorism: "Industry is itself a treasure."

Highland Scene Silk Embroidery, Scotland, circa 1830 ...a large and beautifully worked sentimental scene set in the Scottish highlands, complete with a bagpiper, a young couple and a pair of cherubic children, all of them dressed in classic attire of the highlands.

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 Jastram, attributed to the Balch school, Providence, RI, 1818 Balch students also produced simple pieces as their early projects and these tend to feature alphabets and specific verse that were assigned by Miss Balch.

“John and Ellin” Ship sampler, England, 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.

Mary Joy, Pennsylvania, dated 1788 This sampler was worked by Mary Joy in 1788, folky and charming in its polychrome palette and oversized folky motifs.

Kandy School Missionary Sampler, Ceylon, 1884 The fascinating samplers made by the young girls at these schools exist, but are quite rare and we offer this example, a recent discovery and addition to the known body of work.

Ann Lambard, England, 1761 …endearing little marking sampler was stitched by Ann Lambard was worked in 1761, when she was only seven year old…

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.

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.

Hannah Merrell, Barkhamsted, Litchfield Co., Connecticut, 1829 Hannah Merrell states on her fine sampler that she was born April 21st 1819, and that she made it in 1829 in Barkhamsted.

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

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

Elizabeth Neavel, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 1829 This sampler was in the collection of Theodore H. Kapnek, one of the most highly regarded collectors of American samplers.

Sarah Parker, Massachusetts, 1799 ...sampler fits into the tradition of 18th century samplers made in the towns of coastal northern Massachusetts, with little hillocks of plants and trees and deeply arcaded borders.

"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.

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.

Pocketbook with silver point and paper, European, circa 1790 Gold metallic threads form the background for the woven architectural motifs. One side depicts a grand cathedral and the other a brick-walled farm....

Pole Screen, Scottish, circa 1840 ...this lovely tabletop pole screen with a needlework picture of a highlander: a young Scottish boy with his staff and shield and a feather in his cap.

Punched Paper, worked to celebrate Geo. Washington, American, circa 1875 ...celebrate the life and accomplishments of George Washington.

Rebecca Riddiford, Map of Palestine, Oxford, England, 1834 ...we have only known of one other sampler that depicts this particular ancient map.

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…

Sablé Beadwork, Coat of Arms, France, circa 1750 "Sablé" is the French word for "sand" and was used to describe the mid 18th century technique of stitching extremely fine glass beads to form a picture...

Nancy Sanborn, Gilmanton, New Hampshire, 1831 ...a pair of unusual checkerboard flower pots flank a fascinating center element, which has its precedent in 18th century Boston band sampler design, with the addition of tiny birds and flowers decorating the enclosed spaces.

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.

Martha Sharp, England, 1741 Most striking, and rarely seen on a sampler, is a fine maze, worked here in deep blue stitches…

Mary Ann Shead, “The Great Exhibition”, High Laver, Essex, England, 1854 Mary Ann Shead stitched her outstanding rendition of the Crystal Palace in 1854, just three years later than The Great Exhibition of All Nations, for which this building was erected.

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.

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…

Elizabeth Turner, Greenock Female School of Industry, Scotland, 1830 ...features a large and very interesting building, likely a depiction of the school building, with a young girl in the center archway. Quite whimsically, she is portrayed tossing a ball into the air.

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.

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.

Sarah Ann Westcott, Cumberland Co., New Jersey, 1839 A group of sophisticated, beautifully-made samplers, each with strong family documentation, comes from the area of Fairfield Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey.

Mary Winney, Scottish or American, 1804 The work itself is quite handsome. A wide array of decorative bands is interspersed with alphabets, and Miss Winney certainly practiced her eyelet stitch with perfection.

Ann Wright, England, 1840 ...which features an unusual and detailed rendition of a church with a clock tower.

Silk Embroidery of Zebras, Continental, circa 1820 The subject matter of this beautifully worked silk embroidered picture is most appealing: two zebras recline next to a thatched roof structure amidst lush and exotic foliage.