1780s Elizabeth Northrup Colonial sampler with morbid verses & unusual design

Very unusual American Colonial era sampler with several morbid verses– ” Elizabeth Northrup (?) aged 12 years & 6 months & 11 days August 30 178- When I Am Dead & In My Grave & All My Bones Are Rotten When This You See Remember Me & Let Me Not Be Forg(otten).” The last number of the year appears to have been picked out.

The linen ground fabric is a warm toasty brown and there is very little, if any color fading to the silk threads. The center of the sampler offers traditional rows of alphabets and the floral border starts out typically, but the verses in the corners and the hyena-like animal at the bottom are most unusual. The sampler is hemmed on three sides and has woven selvedge on the left side.

“All Flesh Must Die & Go to The(e)” verse in upper left corner. “This Separating Wall That Bars Me From Thy Love” verse in lower left corner. Upper right corner verse is only partially decipherable “Gav(e?) Them————For All The Live.” Lower right corner verse is stitched in a thread that matches the background fabric so the area looks unworked– it’s very hard to read but begins ” O God Of——- My Load Of Guilt————-“.

Despite damage along the edges and several holes, the fabric is quite strong and supple, not at all brittle. The holes across the center appear to have been caused by the sampler having been stored folded for some time.

The sampler measures 10-1/4″ wide by 11-1/2″ high. It is unframed and will be shipped rolled in acid-free paper in a tube.  A signature will be required at delivery.  Shipping within the USA is included in the price, and will be billed separately for overseas customers.

SOLD