c1780 Sarah Moor’s English sampler with verses SOLD

Sarah Moore was likely only 10 or 12 years old when she worked her exceptional sampler; the color palette is muted and sophisticated, as is the rather modern design. Fine silk floss was used throughout and the stitches are quite small, about 18-20 per inch. “Sarah Moor her sampler Waf (Was) born September the 10 1770” is stitched beneath the central flower basket. The archaic long-form letter “s” which looks like an “f” is used throughout, and the letter “w” also has an atypical formation.

The sampler features several verses worked over single thread intersections. Across the top: “Oh What bosom but must Yeld (yield) When Like Pallis (Pallas) You Advance With A thimble for Your shield And A needle for Your lance Fairest of the stitching train ease my Passion by Your art and in Pity to my Pain Mend the hole thats in my heart”. Bottom left: “the Winter tree resembles mee (me) Whose sap lies in its Root the Spring draws nigh as it so high shall bud i hope and shoot”. Bottom right: “Only the action of the just smell sweet and blossoms in The dust”. There are numerous birds and crowns scattered among the floral motifs.

It is mounted on the original wooden board with paper underneath; on the back is a label with lovely copperplate handwriting “Sampler Mr Wm Moore 24 St John’s Terrace Milfield.” There is wear and loss to the ground fabric along the edges but only a small portion of the stitching in the lower border is affected. The rest of the linen in the sampler body has a few very small holes but no stitch loss.

The sampler measures 13-3/4″ wide by 15-1/4″ high. It is unframed and will be shipped flat in a box. A signature will be required at delivery.