Samplers & Needle Works

Samplers and needle works are some of the most beautiful pieces of history you can find! Often samplers were made by young girls between the ages of 6 and 18, as a way to showcase their stitching capabilities.

Martha Ensey, 1813

Attributed to John McLeod's Eastern Academy in the Navy Yard area of Washington DC

This is probably the most significant piece I have ever had the priviledge to offer. This sampler belongs to a group of 5 related works created in Washington D.C. known as the

“Navy Yard” samplers. One related work also completed in 1813 is in the collection of the DAR. Sight measures 22 inches tall and 17 3/4 wide, framed measures 26 tall and 21 1/2 wide.

Provenance:

Illustrated in American Samplers and Needlework Pictures in the DAR Museum Part II: 1806-1840 (ANTIQUES, April 1975) by Elisabeth Donaghy Garrett

Illustrated in American Needlework Treasures: Samplers and Silk Embroideries from the Collection of Betty Ring (1987) p. 50, fig. 84 by Betty Ring

Illustrated in Columbia’s Daughters: Girlhood Embroidery from the District of Columbia (2012) p. 179, fig 9-9 by Gloria Seaman Allen

Illustrated in "To all Classes of the Community”: John McLeod’s Schools and the Washington Navy Yard and Capitol Hill Samplers (2024) figs. 4 & 20 by Jenny Garwood Journal of Early Southern Decorative Arts Vol. 45

Exhibited: American Needlework Treasures: Samplers and Silk Embroideries from the Collection of Betty Ring at the Museum of American Folk Art

Sotheby’s: S/O Ring, January 22, 2012

Collection of Betty Ring

SOLD!

Hannah Trotter, 1737

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Silk on linen sampler, attributed to the school of Ann and

Elizabeth Marsh in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Sight measures 19 inches tall and 12 1/2 wide, framed measures 22 tall and 15 1/2 wide.

Provenance:

Purchased from the Hubers at East Side Show in 2000

Pook & Pook Inc: The Collection of Drs. Donald & Patricia Herr - Session One, June 9, 2022

$16,500.00

Mary Simmons, 1820

New Castle County, Delaware, possibly Wilmington, Delaware

Sight measures 20 inches tall and 17 wide, framed measures 23 tall and 17 wide.

$1,850.00

Small needlework with bird and flowers

C. 1790

Likely English

Needlework picture of flowers including a bird and an insect. This retains an early, if not original frame. Sight measures 9 inches tall and 7 3/4 wide, framed is 13 tall and 12 wide.

Provenance:

M. Finkel & Daughter

$1,150.00

Eliza Wattson, 1795

Attributed to Northern Delaware

This sampler is part of the group of significant samplers from northern Maryland and Delaware known as the “fruit and flower” samplers. The sampler measures 12 1/2 inches tall and 11 wide, framed it measures 14 1/2 tall and 13 wide.

$3,750.00

Phebe Thwing, June 22, 1786

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Sight measures 10 1/2 inches tall and 9 wide, framed measures 13 1/2 tall and 12 wide.

SOLD!

Mary Weeks, C. 1790-1800

Marlboro, Massachusetts

Mary Weeks (1783-1863) was the wife of Daniel Pinckney Parker. This sampler has been professionally mounted and framed under conservation glass. Sight measures 9 1/4 inches tall and 8 1/4 wide, framed measures 10 3/4 tall and 9 3/4 wide.

SOLD!

Rebecca C. Fritts, 1826

Attributed to the Nine Partners Boarding School, Dutchess County, New York

A lovely simple verse sampler. Retaining an early, or possibly its original frame. Professionally mounted. Sight measures 9 1/4 inches tall and 11 wide, framed measures 13 tall and 14 1/2 wide.

SOLD!

Elizabeth Neavel, 1829

Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

This "band" form sampler retains very strong colors with little fading. Sight measures 17 inches tall and 8 3/4 wide, framed measures 19 1/4 tall and 11 wide.

Provenance:

M. Finkel & Daughter

$3,250.00

Ann Houston Griffith, 1819

Lewes, Delaware

Ann Houston Griffith (1804-1885) was the wife of Joshua Atkinson Ellegood (1789-1845). They are both interred in Saint Lukes Cemetery, Seaford, Sussex County, Delaware just 30 miles from Lewes. This sampler was likely completed at “Mrs. Bowers’ School in Lewes. Sight measures 16 1/2 inches tall and 17 3/4 wide, framed measures 19 1/2 tall and 20 3/4 wide.

Provenance:

Exhibited: “Wrought With Careful Hand: Ties of Kinship on Delaware Samplers” at the Biggs Museum, Dover, Delaware

Illustrated: Delaware Discoveries by Gloria Seaman Allen & Cynthia Steinhoff, pgs. 238-239.

Illustrated: Wrought with Careful Hand by Lynne Anderson & Gloria Seaman Allen, pg. 51.

$6,250.00

Elizabeth Beautyman, 1799

England

This sampler retains strong color with fine stitching. Small areas of loss to the ground linen fabric. Sight measures 16 3/4 inches tall and 11 3/4 wide, framed it measures 20 1/2 tall and 15 1/2 wide.

$995.00

Roberta Johnson, February 16, 1829

Georgetown, Washington, D.C.

Sight measures 19 1/4 inches tall and 15 3/4 wide, framed it measures 21 1/2 tall and 18 wide.

Provenance:

M. Finkel & Daughter

$2,250.00

Mary E. Burden, 1824

“Mary E Burdens Work Wrought in the twelfth year of her age 1824 being the 48th year of American Independence” Sight measures 16 inches wide and 16 tall, framed it measures 19 3/4 by 19 3/4

$1,950.00

Jennet Rowland, 1801 & 1802

Westtown Boarding School, West Chester,Chester County, Pennsylvania

Jennet entered the Westtown School in February of 1800 from Camden, Delaware. This rare pair of samplers both created by Jennet Rowland a year apart from each other at the Westtown Boarding School. The smaller one retains what is likely its original black painted frame.

Provenance:

Illustrated: Threads of Useful Learning: Westtown School Samplers by Mary Brooks, Fig.52, pg. 56 & pg. 64

$6,250.00 for the pair

Maria Hicks, March 29, 1809

Brooklyn, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania

The sampler measures 16 1/4 inches tall and 12 3/4 wide, framed it measures 19 1/2 tall and 16 1/4 wide.

$1,295.00

Catherine Green, 1798

Point no Point on the Delaware

Present day Bridesburg, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This is a rare sampler with many wonderful motifs. It also includes the figures of Liberty, Virtue, and Independence. It is unfortunately in poor condition, but an important example. sight measures 21 3/4 inches tall by 18 3/4 wide, and framed it measures 25 1/2 tall by 22 1/2 wide.

$995.00

Elizabeth Davidson, 1808

Attributed to New Castle County, Delaware

This sampler was created by Elizabeth Davidson (1792-1864). She was born in Worcester County, Maryland to John and Nancy Davidson. She married Garrison McCabe (1788-1857) in 1812 in New Castle County, Delaware. A related sampler with very similar flowers produced in Newark, Delaware sold at Pook and Pook from the collection of Brian B. and Elizabeth H. Topping on October 1, 2025. Sight measures 15 3/4 inches tall and 13 3/4 wide, framed measures 17 tall and 15 3/4 wide.

Provenance:

M. Finkel and Daughter

$5,750.00

Sarah Pennypacker, 1811

Attributed to Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

This sampler was made by Sarah Pennypacker (1797-1878). She was the Wife of William Walker. This sampler retains a period, possibly original gilded frame with a black and gold reverse painted mat. The top of the sampler incorporates a family record naming the stitchers parents Matthias Pennypacker (1742-1808) and Mary Margaret Longaker Pennypacker (1753-1821). Sarah Pennypacker Walker is the great aunt of Samuel Whitaker Pennypacker (1843-1916) who was the governor of Pennsylvania from 1903-1907. The collections of Pennypacker Mills in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania is centered around Samuel W. Pennypacker, and his families history. Sight measures 20 3/4 inches tall and 16 3/4 wide, framed measures 25 3/4 tall and 21 3/4 wide.

$1,450.00

The Mother's Hope

Unknown creator, likely American, 1807-1815

Inspired by a print titled "The Mother's Hope" published in 1807 by William Holland,No. 11 Cockspur Street, London. A similar needlework inspired by the same print source is published in American Needlework Treasures by Betty Ring, p. 66, fig. 107. The needlwork pictured in this book was created in 1808 by Eliza Flint in Boston, Massachusetts. This piece retains an frame of a similar date, possibly original. The reverse painted mat is possibly repainted.

$995.00

Sarah Augusta Loring. 1827

Groton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts

Sarah Loring made sure to use her canvas to its full potential, nearly covering the entire piece with hter floral designs and twisting grapevine. She was the daughter of John Hancock Loring (1775-1866) and Sarah Penny Loring (1780-1855). She was the wife of Isaiah L. Cragin (1818-1901). She is buried in Athol, Worcester County, Massachusetts.

$1,550.00

Sarah Smithers, 1838

Kent County, Delaware

Daughter of Waitman Smithers (1790-1849) and Mary Dryden (1800-1874). Sarah Smithers (1830-1855) was the wife of Joshua Spencer. Sarah and many of her family members listed on this sampler are interred at Barratt's Chapel in Frederica, Kent County, Delaware. The sampler is conservation mounted, and retains a period mahogany veneered frame with an ebonized border. Sight measures 16 1/2 inches tall and 17 3/4 wide. Framed measures 22 1/2 tall and 23 3/4 wide.

Provenance:

M. Finkle & Daughter

$4,250.00

Esther Sealy

Diminutive sampler with extremely fine stitching on a fine linen ground. Scattered small losses primarily to the linen ground. This sampler is conservation mounted and under UV protective glass. Sight measures 8 1/4x 8 inches, framed is 9 1/2x9/12

SOLD!

Sarah Cox, 1777

A lovely little sampler stitched in 1777. plainly stitched, but retains good color to the threads. Sonservation mounted and framed. Sight measures 4 1/4 inches wide and 10 inches tall, framed measures 6 1/2 wide and 12 1/4 tall.

$650.00