Antique 42 Inch Long Sampler Embroidery Dated 1787 and 1789

This is an 18th century band sampler, so called because looms at the time produced narrow "bands" of linen.  It was expertly stitched with a variety of extremely tiny stitches that form fascinating and often surprising images. Too many for a complete list, they include: an elephant; a hunter aiming at a deer; a lobster; a cabinet on stand with vases decorating its top; a knight on horseback; a cat and a dog and a lady with a parasol, to mention just a few.  

In the lower center, below the large building and on either side of the stag, there are shields. The one on the left bears the date 1787 and the one on the right 1789, though both are not easy to read and even more difficult to photograph (we've shown them under a magnifier). The year dates may indicate when the sampler was started and finished or may memorializes death dates, perhaps those of the maker's parents. Each year date has a group of three initials above it, each group different from the other. There are many other letters and groups of letters scattered about, but no signature we could find. 

The lower third of the sampler has thirteen rows of letters and numbers, followed by a row of flowers, then a row of hearts and spades, finishing with a half dozen rows of simple meander designs. The letter "J" is not part of these embroidered alphabets. Antique samplers sometimes had letters missing, most commonly the J, V, W, and, rarely, the U. This may be a continuation from very early samplers of the Elizabethan time (1558-1603) when the alphabet was comprised of 24 letters.

The sampler is framed with 1/4 inch wide rounded mahogany molding with a rigid backing which used to be covered with brown paper. The frame has a hanging wire on the back and another wire tightly across it lower down. We believe the sampler was framed in the 1920's-1930's. The frame and the glass are in very good condition. The piece measures 42 inches top to bottom and 10 inches wide and weighs 4 1/4 pounds. 

Long, narrow samplers like these were often stored rolled up, rather than hung on a wall, which preserved this sampler nicely until it was framed. There are two small holes, one near the elephant's leg and the other among the alphabet letters and there are some small areas of darkening of the linen. We mention these for accuracy, as they are barely noticeable in the midst of the profusion of designs. The colors are lovely, muted and faded over the centuries, contributing to its antique appeal. 

>>>Depending on the light in which this sampler is displayed, the linen will appear a distinctly lighter beige. We photographed it in dim light so that the details would stand out better.

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