Halsey Munson Americana

204 North Summit Avenue

Decatur, Illinois  62522

Phone:  217-972-4645

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Pennsylvania House Sampler

Excellent 1834 silk on linen Pennsylvania house sampler, signed by Mary Stote, in an unusual vertical format. 8¼” x 13¾”. The strong strawberry border completely encloses a three-tier presentation format frequently seen in Philadelphia samplers from the 1820s and 1830s. Here it is anchored at the bottom by a brick home with two chimneys and a hipped roof, flanked by a pair of flowering potted plants that nearly dwarf the house. In fact, all the elements in Mary’s sampler are unusually large, emphasizing the charming folky perspective. In addition to the motifs that traditionally characterize Philadelphia samplers, like angels, butterflies, hearts, long-tailed birds and tall baskets of blossoms, Mary’s  needlework includes a rare pair of polychrome roosters and two spotted deer. Ground linen is in good condition with one almost invisible peppercorn-sized hole at the extreme top. No discoloration except a faint stain along the lower edge and the hint of a fold line. A related needlework is illustrated in Stephen and Carol Huber’s Samplers: How to Compare and Value. Archivally framed in birdseye maple. A very good Pennsylvania sampler in amazing condition.     

$4,795