M. Finkel & Daughter

On this date, 217 years ago, Betsy Wells of Salem, Massachusetts finished her very handsome sampler. Worked on green linsey-woolsey fabric, it includes a delightful scene of white sheep and a black dog, with a fine border of grapes on a flowering vine. Betsy was 11 years old at the time. From our archives. #everysamplertellsastory #antiquesamplers #massachusettshistory #antiquesampler #mfinkelanddaughter

Happy 4th! #mfinkelanddaughter #antiquesamplers

Great old names on antique samplers that we’ve owned. Poised for comebacks? #everysamplertellsastory #antiquesampler #mfinkelanddaughter

Photos of the backs of samplers! Because examining and photographing these, when possible, is highly instructive. Samplers made in the UK are often very neatly worked and beautifully finished on both front and back, an indication of the high level of skills taught to these young samplermakers. These photos were taken prior to our conservation process. Samplers are from our archives. #everysamplertellsastory #antiquesamplers #mfinkelanddaughter

Calling attention to the hundredth anniversary of the publication of the seminal book, American Samplers by Ethel Stanwood Bolton and Eva Johnston Coe. This was the culmination of a monumental survey project of the Massachusetts Society of the Colonial Dames of America, which sought to register and describe every known American sampler at that time. As stated, to preserve the memory of our ancestors, their domestic virtues have been scantily recorded, and collect which demands attention. This book became and remains an extremely valuable tool for scholars, curators and collectors. Scroll through to view some of what was documented - family information, verses and their sources when known, schools and teachers, and patterns. The book was re-printed in the 1970s. #everysamplertellsastory #antiquesamplers

Just as #thedayofthedead honors Mexican family members and ancestors who have passed away, early 19th American schoolgirls made poignant silk embroidered memorials with the same intent. This was stitched and painted to memorialize George Torrey, a ship builder of Scituate, Massachusetts, who died in 1813 and was likely made by one of the daughters of George and his wife, Thankful Otis. #antiqueneedlework #massachusettshistory #everysamplertellsastory #antiquesampler #mfinkelanddaughter

Let’s learn from history! Be sure to vote!#votelikeyourrightsdependonit

seems like I missed #nationalcatday yesterday ****************************** #antiquesampler... #everysamplertellsastory #mfinkelanddaughter

Closeups of 7 samplers and 1 silk embroidered picture on our site, see link in bio for Current Selections. #antiquesampler #everysamplertellsastory #antiquesamplers #mfinkelanddaughter

#Repost @antiquesmag Sarah Quare was about ten years old in 1700, when she secured the final stitches in this linen and silk sampler. This sampler is so similar to others of the same period that it was almost certainly made when Sarah was attending a Quaker school outside of London. Sarah Quare was a twin, born to Mary and Daniel Quare on March 24, 1689/90. In the late seventeenth century, when the Old Style calendar was still in effect, March 24 was the last day of the ...year, and March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation (also known as Lady Day), was the first day of the new year. As it happens, Sarah Quare’s father was one of the most famous clockmakers of the day, a man very much invested in the accurate measurement of time. His introduction of jewel end stones and dust caps did much to improve the action and durability of clock escapements and, as a result, brought him patronage at Court. Such horological innovations helped place Britain at the forefront of the race with its European counterparts to establish longitude at sea and, with that, a decisive advantage over maritime competitors. This sampler is just one of more than 450 objects included in the publication Marking Time: Objects, People, and Their Stories, 15001800. Image: Jamie Stukenberg, courtesy of The Bryan Collection, Lake Bluff, IL. #AntiqueofTheDay #Everysamplertellsastory #antiquesampler #antiquesamplers See more

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Wonderful Massachusetts sampler made in Beverly, a coastal town that was originally part of Salem, first established as a town in 1626. Signed, Martha J. Woodberry's wrought in the 12th year of her age December 24th 1825. Finished on Christmas Eve! Martha’s ancestor, John Woodbury (c.1583-1641) was one of the area’s first settlers, residing there by 1628. He arrived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1624, an early arriver as part of the Great Migration of 1620 to 1640. He ...became a prominent citizen of the fledgling settlement, along with a handful of other men that included Governor John Endicott. Served in various civic positions including town surveyor, constable, assessor of livestock. Martha was the daughter of Asa and Jane (Pickard) Woodberry, born on May 7, 1814. Copies from various published sources, including the vital records of Beverly, are included in the file that accompanies this sampler. The stitching is remarkably precise, with some of the lettering showing the influence of Quaker sampler design of the period. Worked in green silk onto tan linen, pristine condition. Swipe to see a photo of the back of the sampler, taken prior to conservation mounting. Available on our site - $1400 (includes UPS shipping insured) see link in bio to Current Selections for better photo and more info. ******************************************************************** #everysamplertellsastory #antiquesamplers #massachusettshistory #mfinkelanddaughter #antiquesampler

#NationalTennesseeDay! This large and very beautifully worked sampler was made by Isabella Chrisman in 1847 in Wilson County, Tennessee. She was born in 1832 and was likely attending the Abbe Female Institute when she worked this. We're delighted to do as she advised in her stitched wording in the wreath near the top of her work, "Remember Me" and her four line verse below This work perhaps my friends may have / When I am in my silent grave / And which when ere they chance... to see / May kind remembrance picture me. Available on our site, see link in bio to Current Selections for further information. ******************************************************************** #everysamplertellsastory #antiquesampler #tennesseehistory #tennesseesamplersurvey #antiquesamplers #mfinkelanddaughter

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Have to love a sampler with a fabulous family story - sometimes it's ancestors, sometimes descendants. Sally Paine Hemenway (1805-1882) made this outstanding sampler in 1814 in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. She went on to marry a successful and adventurous physician and they spent much time abroad. One of their sons was also a doctor and an explorer. He, William, married Fanny Bullock, the daughter of a Massachusetts governor and together they spent many years exploring exotic p...laces, climbing mountains and glaciers, and writing books and articles that were published in scientific journals. Their expeditions included trips to Ceylon, Java, India, Pakistan, Kashmir and Nepal. Fanny’s ascent of Pinnacle Peak in the Himalayas earned her the right to claim the women’s high altitude record for the first decade of the 1900s. In 1906 William was awarded the grand medal of the Societe de Topigraphique de France. A full file of research about this very interesting and unusual family accompanies Sally's sampler. Sampler is available, see current selection on our website, link in bio. ****************************** #everysamplertellsastory #antiquesamplers #mfinkelanddaughter #antiquesampler #doratheexplorer

#onthisdate 192 years ago, October 21, 1828, Edna Stubbs, an English schoolgirl, finished this lovely sampler depicting the story of Ruth and Naomi. ****************************** #everysamplertellsastory... #antiquesampler #antiquesamplers #mfinkelanddaughter

#vote2020 #everysamplertellsastory #antiquesampler #mfinkelanddaughter