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

| ASF | | Geffroy | | Knox |

Martha R. Aaronson, Burlington County, NJ, 1838 ...worked this fine sampler and included the classic Quaker alphabet and many traditional Quaker motifs.

Phoebe Abbott, Bishopsbourne School, England, 1831 This appealing white on white marking sampler was stitched by Phoebe Abbott…

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…

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.

Nancy Battelle, silk embroidery entitled “Juvenile Diversion”, Mrs. Rowson School, Boston, circa 1800 ...Nancy Battelle attended Boston's finest school for girls, that of the celebrated Mrs. Susanna Rowson, and while there worked this fascinating silk embroidery.

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.

SB, Bethel, Maine, 1826 A small sampler with great charm, this was made by an eleven year old…

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.

Emma Brough, England, 1849 …a small sampler with strong appeal…

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…

Civil War Carpetbag, owned by Thomas K. Jones of Portland, Maine, circa 1860 ...we are pleased to offer this rare example with full documentation as to its owner. It was used during the Civil War…

Ann Crisp, probably Philadelphia, 1785 ...handsome 18th century sampler is signed, "Ann Crisp Aged 10 in the year of our lord 1785."

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Tabitha Field, Chesterfield, Burlington Co., New Jersey, 1820 She made this charming sampler when she was 12 years old, decorating the bottom with her parents' initials and little flower and berry plants with white birds perched on top.

Eleanor Fisher, Rush Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, 1839 ...in the collection of Theodore H. Kapnek, widely considered one of the premier collectors of American samplers; this provenance is one of the most important that any sampler can offer.

Friesian Sampler, DF, Holland, 1738 An early date, strong coloration and fine stitches combine to make this an unusual and praiseworthy sampler.

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.

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.

Evelina S. Gilman, Canterbury school, New Hampshire, circa 1825 Evelina S. Gilman's splendid sampler presents these classic Canterbury characteristics and was executed with great skill.

Polly Goodridge, silk embroidery memorial to two siblings, Lynn, Massachusetts, circa 1815 This exquisite silk embroidery was worked by Polly Goodridge of Lynn, Massachusetts circa 1815, in memory of her brother and sister, who had died as infants in 1804 and 1806.

George Washington Printed Handkerchief, American, circa 1810 ...rare to find an American example and of course this is a highly desirable subject matter, entitled "The Love of Truth Mark the Boy."

Hector, Portrait of a Lion, England, circa 1850 This is a charming diminutive portrayal of a recumbent lion named "Hector."

Agnes Henry, Beadwork sampler on punched paper, Scotland, 1848 ...this particular beadwork piece however is highly unusual and most appealing in that it is a classic schoolgirl sampler.

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

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.

Elizabeth K. Hunt, Stoddard, New Hampshire, 1825 Inscribed, "Elizabeth K Hunt age 12 years / Stoddard August the 23 1825," this sampler is one of the many excellent samplers made in the small towns of southern New Hampshire.

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…

Silk embroidered picture, Italy, circa 1800 …a delightful little embroidered picture, the subject of which is a rural scene with ruins from antiquity in the foreground.

“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.

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.

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.

Mary Ann Leaman, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 1842 Many of the elements that Mary Ann included are classic Pennsylvania German motifs…

Hannah Lewis, Philadelphia, 1812 A tradition of depicting grand, castle-like houses on hills remained popular with Philadelphia samplermakers…

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.

LP, Pennsylvania German, 1842 We occasionally are able to acquire Pennsylvania German samplers that were worked in the Mennonite sect and in a pleasing red and blue palette…

Margaret McLeod, Greenock, Scotland, 1818 ...a young woman with long hair and a black hat; she wears a long dress and bright red shoes…

Zelphia Merrill, Durham, Maine, 1827 Zelphia worked this simple yet very charming sampler when she was 10 years old.

Elizabeth Mitchell, Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, 1828 The Quaker samplers of Pennsylvania often exude a quiet refinement in their composition and needlework, as is evident on this praiseworthy sampler made by Elizabeth Mitchell…

Needlework Flowers on Paper, England, 1803 Needlework on paper has always had an interesting appeal, as the long silk threads are stitched through flat paper…

Jane Nelson, Turner’s Hospital, Kirkleatham, England, 1813 ...tall figure of a young lady, created from needlework as well as painted cut paper.

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.

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.

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.

Charlotte Reed, Milton, Massachusetts, 1813 It features a lengthy poem that addresses the maker directly and uses the sampler as a metaphor for the actions that should guide one's behavior in life…

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…

Hannah Riley, England, 1828 In England young needlework students were occasionally required to depict a notable building…

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

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.

Elizabeth Simpson, Solebury, Bucks County, PA, 1815 ...this fine Quaker sampler from the historic town of Solebury in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Sarah Smith, England, circa 1800 Diminutive scale and carefully wrought tiny motifs make miniature samplers one of the most endearing forms of needlework.

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 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…

Ann Suydam, Brooklyn, New York, 1833 Ann Suydam, a 10-year-old from one of the early Dutch families of New York and Brooklyn, made this splendid sampler…

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

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

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.

Elizabeth Walton, Salisbury, Massachusetts, 1809 ...prominent family members in the area, with Elizabeth's grandfather, Col. Jonathan Evans (1739-1806) commanding a company of minute men at the Lexington Alarm.

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.

Ann Davey Wells, England, 1785 The aphorism worked underneath this is one of our favorites and was likely one that was designated by Ann's teacher: "A diligent scholar is an ornament to a school."

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.

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…

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

Pin Cushion, America, 1879 …worked in the tradition of a sampler, having initials, woven baskets, a building and the date 1879…

“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

Straw Work Needlecase, England, late 19th century

Loom-Woven Beadwork Tape, Europe, circa 1835

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

Next update: March 23rd

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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!