1811 English Needlework Sampler by Martha McLaughlen

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1811 English Needlework Sampler by Martha McLaughlen

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Sold Date: 04/10/2008
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Textiles, Clothing & Accessories

1811 English Needlework Sampler by Martha McLaughlen

Unusual Color Pallet w/ Flowering Trees Dogs & Deer

A large and very handsome English Schoolgirl Needlework Sampler by Martha McLaughlen, dated 1811. The sampler is done in a very unusual color pallet which includes bronze, gold and dark green, with some dark red/almost burgundy highlights. The sampler is very beautifully constructed in terms of balanced elements and the stitching is tiny and precise (Martha was very talented or had a very good instructress). In addition to the numerous flowering trees (5 rows of them), 2 little dogs (about ¾ of the way down) and 2 deer (bottom left and right), t is a simple, inspirational verse ( Give me O Lord thine early Grace/ Nor let my Soul complain...That the young Morning of my Days/ has all been spent in vain...) and Martha signed the sampler "Marth McLaughlens Work in the 11 th Year of her Age 1811." The sampler has a zigzag strawberry and vine border, also done in bronze and gold. The sampler measures 12 ½" x 16" and is framed in a period and possibly original black painted frame w/ lemon gold liner (the frame has some paint wear); much of the paper backing is gone, exposing the linen material that the sampler is mounted on and attached to a wooden frame.

In a perfect world, this sampler would be perfect and ready for a museum! Alas, neither the world, not the sampler are perfect, although the blemishes on the sampler are far less noticeable than the blemishes on the world. The needlework (which is, as noted, incredibly tight and precise) is complete and the colors have held up remarkably well. The linen has some overall age toning, but the couple of small stains that are present are few and not very noticeable (right above the antlers of the deer on the lower left, and in the tree above the dog on the left are the 2 most noticeable light spots). The sampler DOES have several holes in the linen: t are some holes around the containers in the second row, a hole near each of the deer and a large (1" x 5/8") piece of the linen missing (but ironically, not all of the border stitching) at the lower right. These holes (which are shown with arrows in the photos) are not terribly noticeable when the sampler is on the wall because of the backing material used (virtually the same color as the linen of the sampler).

A quick genealogical search yielded no Martha McLaughlens born in England c. 1800. If anyone has further genealogical information that they would like to share, I will be happy to post an addendum. Let me know if you need additional or close-up photos and please do not hesitate to ask questions, etc. Buyer prepays, plus postage (shipping weight should be 8-9 pounds and I would prefer NOT to take this one out of the frame for shipping: the frame does not add that much weight and it does give it good protection).