c1830 Marya Josefa Sanchez sampler with flamestitch & openwork

Marya Josefa Sanchez’s magnificent sampler dates from around 1830. It’s a very nice size (many Mexican samplers are huge) and both the workmanship and arrangement of patterns are exceptional. It’s definitely the work of an accomplished embroiderer and features Bargello or flame stitch patterns, filet, “Aztec” stitch (an openwork technique created with blocks of slanted satin stitches) plus beadwork in addition to cross stitches. The silk thread is very shiny filament floss.

The lettering reads LO HYZO MARYA JOSEFA SANCHEZ, which translates to “by the hand of (or the work of) Marya Josefa Sanchez. Thw logo-marked images are photographs, the unmarked images are scans. The very last image is the underside of the sampler.

The condition is also very good; there is very little color loss to the silks and the stitches are are skillfully worked with only a few spots of loss in the flamestitch patterns. The linen fabric is sturdy and supple, free of holes with neatly hemmed edges. There are small areas of light stains and watermarks but they do not detract. The sampler was once glued to a backing board and there is stiff glue residue along the edges on the reverse although the paper once attached has been removed. There are areas of faint hazing or color bleed from a blue-green shade of the silk in some areas.

The sampler measures 14-1/4″  by 20-3/4” and could be displayed either vertically or horizontally. It is unframed and will be shipped rolled inside an acid free sleeve. A signature will be required at delivery.