"While visiting England last year I fell in love with the antique samplers they had for sale and various antique stores. I really know nothing about them, just knew I loved them. I would really like to learn more about them, how to tell quality, how to tell fakes, and what the endearing symbols on some of the samplers mean and their historical value.

I would also like to learn more about American samplers. I could really get in to this. If you have any information, or could steer me in the right direction, I would really appreciate it."

My reply: Antique samplers have enjoyed a "comback" of sorts. There's a plentitude of new and reproduction charts for people to purchase at needlwork shops -- some kits may even be purchased in museum gift stores. One of the most endearing things about antique samplers is that most of them were stitched by young girls as practice for the duties they would have to serve as married women -- embroidering linens and clothing.

Samplers were often left unframed, kept in a young woman's sewing box as reference material. Mistakes, such as inverted letters or miscounted patterns, make some samplers even more special -- an indication of the newness of the craft to the stitcher.

Unfortunately, antique samplers are increasingly expensive, because of their popularity, and it's difficult to tell a genuine article from a newly-stitched one. I even heard of one woman who thought she was buying a sampler, and when she took it out of the frame it was a photograph!

You may start your own research on antique samplers at your local library, or better yet, a local museum. Most museums will have at least a small selection of needlework. I've found quite a bit of "antique" needlework -- mostly linens -- at antique shops. (The shops here have terribly reasonable prices.)

One of the best sources for information about antique samplers is Betty Ring. I've heard she does travel a bit and give lectures, but she's also written a number of books and articles about samplers. You may be able to find her by searching at the library, but her latest book regarding American Girlhood Samplers (a 2-vol., hardcover set) is wonderful with hundreds of pictures and many stories/much information about the schools which used to teach the art of sampler making/embroidery.

See if you can find back issues of Antique Samplers magazine or Treasures (they both stayed in business for so little time, but it was only 2 or 3 years ago they went under). Both of those publications had many articles about antique samplers, their collectors, and their creators.

I hope this information helps you. I may add to it before I stick it in my home page, but I hope it gives you a start, at least.

"I do have a few more questions. First of all, you say you've found good "antique" linen in your area. Where is that? I live in Oregon and not a lot of that type of historical stuff seems available. I am taking my daughter on a trip to New England this summer and did want to search out antique stores and look for some colonial samplers. You say also, "increasingly expensive". That's such a relative term! The sampler I bought in England was $350 and I felt it was a real value. Do you mean more or less than this? I really have no idea as to the current price value placed on these samplers. If its much more than this I just as well forget collecting the true artifact.

The book by Betty Ring sounds perfect! Do you know the publisher so I can order it from my local bookstore? ( I imagine it is probably spendy too!) I will check my library, but I doubt its there. I already visited the library and researched what I could there and didn't come up with it.

Also the magazines sound perfect. I hate to keep sounding so dumb, but how would I go about finding back copies. I've never tried any pursuit like this.

Once again, I appreciate so much your help. I've ran into so many brick walls trying to find information here, that now I actually found some help I'm flabbergasted!"

My reply: Most of the stuff here is from the 1900s (I'd say mostly 1940s on up, so they're not truly "antiques," although I have found things older than that.) I often just look and don't buy. Usually runners, doilies, pillow cases, aprons etc. A lot of white on white, or cream on cream embroidery. A white on white runner nicely finished with no visible stains usually runs $12 to $15. I couldn't buy the linen to make one of those things for that much! I live in Winona, MN, and unfortunately, the farther west you go (you're pretty west) the less apt you are to find "antique" needlework, although you can always try antique shops or flea markets where vendors come in from around the country.

As to the value of your sampler, how old was it? Was it in good condition? How complex was the piece? What kinds of materials were used? Did it have the person's name on it and a date? It sounds like you probably got a good deal. Some samplers go for SIX FIGURES (that's not including those after the decimal point!)

"Let me describe my sampler. I love its so much its like talking about a beloved child.

It's about 20" square on linen. I bought it from a lady who specializes in samplers in Portobello Road in London. She goes around to the various estate sales of all Great Britain and buys these samplers. Usually she finds them in boxes of linens. She buys these whole boxes at the estate auctions and then sorts through them. She told me it takes a lot of boxes to sort through to find anything, but when she does its like finding buried treasure. She did have several to choose between. She was just leaving as I got to her shop to go on another buying venture. Mine was probably mid-priced. She did have some that were in the thousands range, and like you said, some table runners and such, for 15 pounds or so. I felt a true kindred spirit with this lady as we discussed different points of history and the delights of these girlhood samplers. She impressed me as extremely honest. I'm not usually taken in by people and can be somewhat cynical of so-called antique dealers, but she seemed as thoroughly captivated by this as I was. All I know is she make a convert of me!

Upon returning to the states I checked her out as much as possible and she seems entirely legit. I do believe its authentic as to the waterspots and the aged linen. I know these can be duplicated, but the teeny stitches are not one would try to fake. I was staying at a Bed & Breakfast in London and the lady that owned it was an antique dealer and when I showed it to her, she was quite convinced the sampler was authentic. My Bed & Breakfast lady pointed out several features of the sampler that I had not even noticed to show of its quality and charm and facts that pointed to its authenticity.

Anyway, On to the description:

There is the verse of "Virtue", you're probably familiar with it, but I'll repeat it because its sweet.

                   

               "Virtue's the chiefeft Beauty of th Mind,

               The nobleft ornament of human-kind:

               Virtue's our Safeguard and our guiding Star,

               That Airs up Reafon when our Senfes err."

I left the wording and capitalization the way it is on the sampler. "s" is often "f". The Stitches are extremely tiny. When I remarked on this to my bed & Breakfast lady that my 8 year old could not do such small stitches, she said with a twinkle in her eye," I bet granny gave her a hand here or there!" Anyway again, the sentiment is encircled with a floral wreath. Below that in a triangular floral wreath, tied with a bow, is the date "1797", then below that, the name "Mary Ann Vasey", and then below that, "Age 8 Years"

There are many other designs on the sampler. There are many crowns, with beneath them the letters such as "K", "Q", "P", "D", "E", "B", "V", and it could be either a W or M. There's a fold spot here where it has aged so I can't tell for sure. There are trees, birds, and what looks like deer also. Then, surrounding all this, is another border, of a zigzag pattern of what looks like honeybees or thistles. I've seen this in other antique samplers. You do see throughout it varying degrees of tightness and size. There are a few cutoff threads in the back you can see through the thin fabric. Oh, I forgot to say, the sampler lady had it framed in acid free paper in a beautiful antique frame. The colors are muted greens and browns, and a dull gold. There is a fairly vibrant tealish blue that has maintained its brightness. Its in fairly good condition, there are quite a few small waterspots and a darkened fold line with some threadbare appearance along this. There is a repair spot of the fabric on the "A" of the Ann in the name, but besides that, its pretty good.

Gosh, I have gone on about my new "child". You can see how special this is. I would so love to acquire more and have a nice little collection by the time I die to pass on to my daughter. She too loves it. (She is 14) I have English heritage, so this is neat, but would really like to find some American ones if not too expensive. I am a Travel Agent, so do quite a bit of traveling, so want to start looking for them. If I can find them under $400 I would like to get one special one every year or so. The sampler lady in London did say they are much more money here in the states. She said some U.S. antique buyers are coming there and buying the Scottish samplers which bear a remarkable resemblance to the Pennsyvania Dutch area ones for a low price and reselling them in the states at a much higher price. Interesting to remember. My husband tells me this is an extremely expensive hobby, but I can't see how these will depreciate over the years, only get more valuable. So hopefully a wise investment. Plus the enjoyment they bring to me.

I will call my bookstore here and see if Betty Ring's book is available for order. My birthday happens to be this Friday, so would be a good bug to put in my husband's ear. I also looked in the yellow pages and found a store that specialized in used magazines. May be my answer. I did read about the "club". Sounds great. How do I join?

I can't tell you how much I appreciate your help. It is so nice to talk to someone who appreciates the joys of these samplers. Here on the West Coast, no one knows or values them. I did recently have a baby shower for my sister-in-law, and of the 30 ladies who attended, only one noticed it on the wall and questioned me about it, and then fell in love with it also. She also happened to be a fellow stitcher. Is that what it takes? Anyway, I am on thin ground here in Salem, Oregon, so am appreciative of any help or appreciation from a fellow stitcher.

Thanks again, and I'll keep watching your home page now I've found it!"

Anna

My reply: Thanks for the nice note. It sounds like the sampler you purchased is authentic. Sometimes you can "place" where the sampler was made by the different motifs on it. Without looking at it (and I'm not an expert anyway!) it'd be hard for me to say where it might be from.

The article I have on sampler groups is just a suggestion from a reader in California -- she started one with her local EGA chapter (if you don't already belong to the Embroiderer's Guild of America, I really recommend it. Try to find a local chapter. Otherwise, you can join as a single member, and you get a really great magazine filled with articles you'd really enjoy four times a year, as well as classes you could take via the mail (and then you can actually be critiqued by a "master."))

Sampler art is like any other -- an art. Every art has its appreciators. Not everyone admires Miro, Chagall, Degas, Van Gogh, .... People are drawn to what speaks to them. As a woman, I feel these samplers are a big piece of where we came from. While men's histories were often recorded in detail, sometimes all we have left of a great woman is what she left in stitches on fabric. Sad, but noble. Don't you think?

If you're interested in learning about specific stitches, I recommend Terese De Dillmont's Encyclopedia of Needlework put out by the DMC company. Should be available at any bookstore -- I found mine at an antique shop for $4! (Hardcover, extensively illustrated and 700+ pages!! It's a 100 year old publication, but is still in print, because it's just so wonderful.)

Try browsing antique/used book stores for needlework books -- lots of good finds in this area for cheap. Good to brush up on trends in needlework/history. There are also many fine authors out there today writing about needlework.

© 2007 Theresa Venette. Articles on this site may be reproduced in needlework group newsletters or other handouts with permission of author and proper attribution. Send questions, comments and suggestions to: xspeddler@yahoo.com